Chennai rain alert: Holidays for schools and colleges, WFH advised for this week

In light of the heavy to very heavy rainfall predicted over Chennai and its three adjoining districts for Tuesday, 15 October, the Tamil Nadu Government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in these districts.

For IT firms, the government has recommended Work from Home (WFH) from 15 to 18 October, considering the weather system that is brewing in the Bay of Bengal. These recommendations were made following the review meeting held by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. 

According to the observations by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area has formed over Southeast Bay of Bengal. Over the next 48 hours, it is likely to become a well-marked low-pressure area and move west-northwestwards towards the North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coasts, which puts Chennai city and adjoining districts on track for rainfall. 

Further, there is a forecast for extremely heavy rainfall in Chennai and adjoining districts on Wednesday October 16, and on Thursday this could subside to heavy rainfall over the region. 

In Meteorology, a low-pressure area is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than the surrounding areas. Low-pressure systems often bring overcast skies, showers, or storms. Strong low-pressure systems can intensify into larger weather events like tropical storms, cyclones, or hurricanes. 

As per the IMD’s classification, heavy rainfall amounts to 6.4–11.5 cm of downpour in 24 hours, whereas very heavy rainfall amounts to 11.5 cm to 20.4 cm in 24 hours. In case of extremely heavy rainfall, it is more than 20.4 cm in 24 hours. 

Ten teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), comprising a total of 300 personnel, are on standby at Arakkonam, near Chennai. In addition to this, one team has already been pre-positioned in Chennai city for any immediate requirements. NDRF teams are working in close coordination with the State authorities to render assistance at the required time and place.

Each of these NDRF teams are prepared with rubber boats, tree-cutting chainsaws, communications equipment, ropes and harnesses, first aid kits, etc.

In the review meeting chaired by the CM, it was ordered that those in flood-prone and vulnerable areas be moved to relief camps, bread, drinking water and other essential relief supplies be stocked at relief camps, and levels of water bodies be constantly monitored.