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Puducherry, Oct 22 (IANS) In view of the heavy rain warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Puducherry government on Wednesday declared a holiday for all educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions.
Home and Education Minister A. Namassivayam announced that all government and private schools, as well as colleges, in both the regions will remain closed as a precaution to ensure the safety of students.
The northeast monsoon, which has intensified over the region, has been bringing continuous rain since Monday night, forcing officials to issue advisories urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
The minister said further updates regarding reopening of institutions will depend on changing weather conditions.
Meanwhile, following similar alerts, several coastal districts of Tamil Nadu have also declared holidays in educational institutions on Wednesday.
In Chennai, only schools – both government and private – will remain closed, while in Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore and Tiruvallur districts, both schools and colleges have been ordered closed as a precautionary measure.
The IMD has issued a red alert for Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Karaikal (Union Territory), with very heavy to extremely heavy falls predicted. Rain.
Orange alert has been issued for Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kallakurichi, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours.
According to IMD, the deep depression that formed over the south-western Bay of Bengal around 5.30 am on Tuesday is likely to intensify further within the next 24 hours.
The system is moving west-northwestwards towards northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts, and may strengthen into a low pressure area before making landfall along the Tamil Nadu-Andhra coastline.
Strong winds with speed of 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph are expected along Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.
Due to bad conditions, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
District administration has been put on high alert and disaster response teams have been deployed in coastal areas. The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has directed officials to ensure that relief camps are operational and equipped to deal with possible floods and power disruptions.
Authorities have urged residents of vulnerable areas to stay indoors and strictly follow weather advisories as the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal continues to deepen.
–IANS
AL/DPB