Mon Oct 14 13:45:14 UTC 2024: ## Tamil Nadu Braces for Heavy Rains, Schools Closed in Chennai
**Chennai, India** – As a major weather system threatens Tamil Nadu, the state government is taking proactive measures to mitigate the expected impact of heavy rainfall. Chief Minister M K Stalin declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai and surrounding districts on Tuesday, and urged IT employees to work from home between October 15 and 18.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a red alert for several districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall due to a low-pressure system forming over the southeast Bay of Bengal. Chennai and surrounding districts could receive up to 20 cm of rain in the next few days.
Chennai city authorities have deployed 300 specially trained police personnel to low-lying areas and set up a temporary control room to coordinate with civic bodies and emergency services.
The weather system, currently a cyclonic circulation, is expected to intensify into a well-marked low-pressure area and move towards northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh by midweek.
Meteorologists predict the northeast monsoon will arrive earlier than usual this year, potentially causing severe weather disruptions across Tamil Nadu.
“We are preparing for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chennai and surrounding districts,” said S Balachandran, additional director general of meteorology at the RMC in Chennai. He urged residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain cautious, especially during peak rainfall periods.
The government has deployed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force to flood-prone areas. Rescue boats and other emergency equipment have been strategically placed, while district monitoring officers are coordinating relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Over 160 relief centers have been set up, equipped with essential supplies like milk and biscuits, in the most at-risk areas. Chennai authorities have also deployed nearly 1,000 pumps, including submersible motors powered by backup diesel generators, to mitigate potential waterlogging.
The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has issued a circular urging schools to adopt safety measures and avoid using dilapidated buildings. The government also encouraged private firms to allow work from home options.
While the government is taking precautions, Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru warned that waterlogging is inevitable if more than 40 cm of rain falls within a two-hour period.
First Piper 