Chennai: Widespread heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Ditwah has disrupted normal life across Tamil Nadu, prompting authorities to declare holidays for educational institutions in six districts and postpone Anna University semester exams in Chennai as a precautionary measure.

The cyclone, which has since weakened into a severe depression near the Chennai coast, lashed several districts including Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli (Nellai), Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram. The incessant downpour has led to significant waterlogging in low-lying areas, impacting daily activities and traffic movement.

Tamil Nadu rain holiday

In response to the ongoing adverse weather, district administrations have announced the following closures:

• Full Holiday (Schools & Colleges): Chennai, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur districts.




• Holiday for Schools Only: Chengalpattu, Villupuram, and Kallakurichi districts.




• Puducherry has also declared a holiday for schools.

Parents have been advised to ensure children remain safely at home. Additionally, all Anna University semester examinations scheduled for today in Chennai have been postponed. A new date will be announced shortly.

Chennai weather today

While Greater Chennai Corporation and other civic teams are actively engaged in clearing stagnant water, continuous rainfall is hampering efforts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the depression will continue to bring light to moderate rainfall to many places, with isolated heavy spells, over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the next 24 hours.

Cyclone Ditwah update

Cyclone ‘Ditwah’, which has been lingering off the coast of North Tamil Nadu for the past several days, has further weakened into a low-pressure area, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed on Wednesday. The system, initially a deep depression, is now located about 40 km east-southeast of Chennai and has increased its southwestward drift towards the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast from 3 kmph to 8 kmph.

While the system is losing strength, the IMD forecasts that it will maintain its intensity as a low-pressure area for the next 12 hours as it continues its slow movement parallel to the coast.

Tamil Nadu weather alert

With the system’s core influence shifting, the focus of intense rainfall has moved inland. The IMD has issued a warning for very heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris, Erode, and Coimbatore districts today. Additionally, heavy rainfall is likely in Tiruppur, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli (Nellai), Kanyakumari, Salem, and Namakkal districts.