Heavy rainfall triggered by the intensifying northeast monsoon prompted authorities to declare a holiday for schools in several parts of Tamil Nadu on Monday, while educational institutions in Chengalpattu district were directed to function as usual.
District Collectors announced school holidays in Coimbatore, Dindigul and Ramanathapuram districts. In the Nilgiris, the closure was restricted to schools in Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Kundah taluks, while schools in the remaining areas were allowed to operate normally.
Schools in Periyakulam taluk of Theni district were also closed following persistent rainfall along the foothills of the Kodaikanal hills. The decision came amid a red alert for exceptionally heavy rainfall in Theni.
In neighbouring Puducherry, Education Minister A. Namassivayam announced a holiday for schools and colleges in the Puducherry and Karaikal regions.
Meanwhile, authorities in Kallakurichi district declared holidays for selected educational institutions, including Porasakurichi Panchayat Union Middle School, Virugavur Panchayat Union Primary School, Virugavur Government Higher Secondary School, Government Model Higher Secondary School and Eriyur Panchayat Union Middle School in Chinnasalem block.
However, the Chengalpattu District Collector clarified that all schools and colleges in the district would function normally.
The closures followed widespread rainfall across Tamil Nadu as a weather system over the central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal intensified. According to the weather forecast, the system was expected to develop into a cyclonic storm, bringing further rainfall to several parts of the state.
The weather department forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in Pudukkottai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts.
Heavy rainfall was also predicted in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. Other parts of the state were likely to receive moderate rainfall accompanied by strong winds.
In Theni district, heavy rain lashed Allinagaram, Annanji, Vadapudupatti and Aranmanai Pudur. Downpours also affected several areas of Kanniyakumari district, including Kuzhithurai, Marthandam, Arumanai, Kulasekaram and Thuckalay, causing difficulties for motorists.
In Tiruvannamalai, devotees undertaking the traditional girivalam pilgrimage on the occasion of the Aippasi full moon continued their journey through overnight rain, using umbrellas and raincoats.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall intensified during the night in Palani, where wall collapses damaged houses along the Palani-Old Dharapuram Road.
Authorities clarified that the school holiday orders applied only to Monday. In districts where closures were limited to specific taluks or institutions, other schools would continue functioning as usual.
The Nilgiris district administration reiterated that schools outside the four designated taluks would remain open.
(IANS Inputs)
