Red alert in eight districts, holiday for all schools in Chennai; Heavy rain continues in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed that heavy rain will continue in many parts of Tamil Nadu. Red and orange alerts have been issued in several districts today. Red alert has been issued in eight districts including Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Thanjavur. District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Jagade has declared a holiday for all schools in Chennai. Apart from Chennai, district collectors of Cuddalore, Villupuram and Ranipet have also declared a holiday for schools and colleges in their districts. The IMD had earlier advised fishermen not to venture into the sea from October 21 to 25.

There is a warning that a cyclone may form in Tamil Nadu as the cyclonic circulation formed in the Bay of Bengal is strengthening. The cyclone will move in a northwesterly direction by this afternoon. The IMD said that it is likely to develop into a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal, north, Tamil Nadu-Puthucherry-Karakkal parts, south, and Andhra Pradesh coast.

Flood alert has been issued in many parts of Madurai as the water level of the Vaiga river rises following heavy rains. Traffic jams are also possible as the water level rises in many places.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin had visited various places yesterday to review the precautions taken across Chennai to combat the northeast monsoon.