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Chennai, Oct 21 (IANS) Following a severe weather warning from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), district administrations in coastal Tamil Nadu have declared a holiday in educational institutions on Wednesday as a precaution against heavy rainfall forecast in the next 48 hours.
In Chennai, the closure order applies only to schools – both government and private – while in Chengalpattu, Villipuram, Thanjavur, Kallakuri, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore and Tiruvallur, both schools and colleges will remain quietly closed, officials confirmed.
The IMD on Tuesday issued a red alert for eight districts and an orange alert for ten, including Chennai, as the weather system over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression on Tuesday morning.
The system, which formed over the south-western Bay of Bengal around 5.30 am, is expected to strengthen further within the next 24 hours.
Meteorologists said the depression is moving in a west-northwest direction towards northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts and may develop into a low pressure area over the southwest and adjoining west-central Gulf by Wednesday afternoon before making landfall along the Tamil Nadu-Andhra coast.
The IMD has placed Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Karaikal (UT) under red alert, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, while Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kallakurichi, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari are under orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Strong winds with speed reaching 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.
Local administration has been asked to be on high alert, keep relief camps operational and be prepared for possible floods and power cuts.
Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has deployed disaster response teams in coastal districts and intensified monsoon preparedness measures.
Authorities urged residents of low-lying and coastal areas to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and closely follow meteorological advisories as the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal continues to strengthen.
–IANS
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