Holiday declared for schools, colleges in several Tamil Nadu districts

In view of the heavy rainfall prediction for Delta districts in Tamil Nadu, schools and colleges were closed today in Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvarur, and Karaikal in Puducherry.

In Short

• Holiday declared for schools colleges in several Cauvery delta districts
• Depression builds in southwest Bay of Bengal predicting heavy rainfall
• SDRF, NDRF teams deployed and kept on standby for emergency situations

Due to heavy rain forecast in the region, a holiday has been declared today for schools and colleges in Cauvery Delta districts of Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvarur, and Karaikal in Puducherry.

In Thanjavur district, only schools have been declared closed today. The precautionary measures were taken by the Tamil Nadu government in the wake of a heavy rainfall warning for Delta districts due to a depression in the southwest Bay of Bengal.

As the low-pressure depression builds, heavy rainfall has been expected in coastal Tamil Nadu, and as such, district collectors have been advised to take necessary precautions. People living in low-lying areas have been requested to move to safer locations.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, and 1,192 boats have returned to the shore. Warnings have also been issued for fishermen who are in the deep sea to return to the nearest ports.

Monitoring officers for Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai and Thiruvarur have been moved to the respective districts to carry out the rescue and relief work in coordination with the district administration. Special attention has been provisioned for pregnant women, elderly, differently abled and children.

Agricultural workers and those planning to travel have been requested to make their plans accordingly in view of the heavy rain warning.

In Trichy and Dindigul, six teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed and two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been placed in Chennai and Tirunelveli. Apart from these, nine teams of SDRF and 13 teams of NDRF were kept on standby.

The following are the helpline numbers for the areas:

Nagapattinam - 1077, 1800 233 4233, 84386 69800

Mayiladuthurai - 1077, 04364-222588

Thiruvarur - 1077, 94885 47941

Cuddalore - 1077, 94899 30520