Heavy rainfall forecasts led to the closure of schools and colleges across numerous districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on November 24 . Authorities declared a holiday for educational institutions to ensure student safety as weather conditions worsened.
District Closures Announced
Puducherry Home Minister A. Namassivayam confirmed holidays for all schools and colleges in Puducherry and Karaikal. Similarly, various District Collectors in Tamil Nadu announced closures. Students and staff in affected areas stayed home.
| Region | Affected Districts/Areas | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Puducherry | Puducherry, Karaikal | Heavy rain warning |
| Tamil Nadu | Kallakurichi, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur, Karur | Heavy rain forecast |
Kallakurichi District Collector M.S. Prasanth issued the holiday order for local schools. Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon also announced a one-day school holiday due to the adverse weather conditions.
Flood Warnings Issued by CWC
The Central Water Commission (CWC) issued a two-day alert for Kerala and extreme south Tamil Nadu. The alert warns of heavy water flow and potential flood situations in several rivers.
Kerala River Alerts
In Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district, the CWC predicted heavy water flow in the Karamana, Neyyar, and Vamanapuram rivers. Residents near these river systems received warnings to remain vigilant.
Tamil Nadu Flood Advisory
Extreme south Tamil Nadu faces expected heavy flows and above-normal flood conditions. The CWC advisory covers the next two days in specific districts. Rivers such as Thamirabarini (East flowing), Chittar, Manimuthar, Kodaiyar, Pazhayar, Tambraparni (West flowing), Vagai, Kodayar, Paralayar, and Karmanaiyar are under observation. These warnings impact Madurai, Tirunelvel, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari districts.
Disaster Response Teams Deployed
The Tamil Nadu government responded to the severe rain forecast by deploying disaster response teams. Three teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) moved to Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli. These deployments aim to provide immediate assistance and manage any flood-related emergencies.
Official Statement Confirms Closures
“Due to heavy rain warning, a holiday is declared today, Monday, for all government and government-aided schools, private schools, and all colleges in Puducherry and Karaikal,” an official notice confirmed. The notice cited heavy rain warnings as the reason for the immediate closure.