Schools in Chennai and four neighbouring Tamil Nadu districts will remain closed on Wednesday, October 21, after heavy overnight rain affected several areas and forecasters warned that further intense rainfall is likely. District collectors announced the holiday for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ranipet.
The closures cover a wide urban and peri-urban belt around Chennai, where heavy rain can quickly affect road movement, public transport access and neighbourhood connectivity. The decision follows overnight rainfall in parts of Chennai, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur districts, according to a report by DT Next.
The Regional Meteorological Department has forecast more rain over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. It said an upper-air cyclonic circulation that had been located over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the north Tamil Nadu coast was now positioned over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast, extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level.
A low-pressure area is likely to form over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Tamil Nadu coast on Wednesday. The weather system is expected to support continued rainfall across the region, with heavy to very heavy rain forecast in parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until October 26.
The forecast also includes the possibility of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph at one or two places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during the period. These conditions may affect school travel and outdoor activity, which are among the immediate concerns behind district-level closure decisions.
The rain has also generated pressure on Chennai’s civic response systems. A related report cited by DT Next said the city recorded 1,212 rain-related complaints over a 24-hour period, prompting the Greater Chennai Corporation to deploy additional pumps. The complaints and deployment indicate that rainfall impacts are being managed through a combination of drainage response, water removal and local administrative action.
The school holiday announcement applies to the five districts named by their respective district collectors. Further decisions will depend on rainfall conditions and official district-level announcements. The Regional Meteorological Department’s current forecast indicates that heavy to very heavy rain may continue through October 26, while thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds remain possible in parts of the region.
