Chennai and Tiruvallur Schools Closed as Region Recovers from Cyclonic Storm Ditwah

Chennai's weather conditions are showing signs of improvement, yet authorities remain vigilant in monitoring high-risk areas throughout the region.

Chennai:

Authorities have implemented school closures across Chennai and Tiruvallur districts as a safety precaution following several days of continuous rainfall caused by Cyclonic Storm Ditwah in the Bay of Bengal.

Coastal areas in Chennai, Tiruvallur, and surrounding districts experienced heavy downpours with strong winds as the weakened cyclonic system lingered over the area. Due to persistent rain and waterlogged streets throughout the city, Chennai District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Jagde extended school holidays for today, marking the third consecutive day of closures.

In the adjacent Tiruvallur district, District Collector Pratap announced that only schools would observe a holiday on Thursday, citing heavy rainfall in specific locations. Unlike Chennai, other government offices and institutions in Tiruvallur maintained normal operations.

By this morning, rainfall intensity had decreased across many parts of Chennai, providing relief to residents who had been dealing with waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and persistent damp conditions since early in the week.

A temporary clearing of the skies raised optimism for further improvement. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, rainfall is expected to gradually diminish over the next 24 hours as the cyclonic system continues to weaken. However, certain areas of Chengalpattu district continued to experience heavy rain spells. Communities within the Chengalpattu and Kattankulathur unions, including Kolathur, Balur, and Appur, witnessed intense showers accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Substantial runoff from the Ninnakarai forest area rushed through the Kairampedu region, flooding portions of the Kuduvanchery-Kottamedu Road. Near Perumattunallur bus stand, rainwater flowed like streams on both sides of the road, forcing vehicles to move slowly through flooded areas. In Vishnupriya Nagar near Guduvanchery, nearly every street was submerged, with rainwater entering more than a hundred homes, causing considerable inconvenience to residents and raising questions about drainage infrastructure in these rapidly developing suburban areas.

While Chennai begins to experience improved weather conditions, officials continue to monitor vulnerable areas, advising residents to remain cautious as intermittent rainfall remains possible.