Chennai, Oct 21 (NationPress) In light of a serious weather alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), district authorities throughout the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu have announced a day off for educational institutions on Wednesday. This decision comes as a precautionary action against the anticipated heavy rains expected over the next 48 hours.

In Chennai, the closure directive is limited to schools, both public and private, while in districts such as Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, and Thiruvallur, educational institutions including colleges will also remain closed, as confirmed by officials.

The IMD issued a Red Alert for eight districts and an Orange Alert for ten others, including Chennai, due to the weather system over the Bay of Bengal intensifying into a deep depression early Tuesday morning.

This system, which emerged over the southwest Bay of Bengal at approximately 5:30 a.m., is projected to gain strength over the next 24 hours.

Meteorologists indicate that the depression is heading in a west-northwest direction towards the northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts and could evolve into a low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay by Wednesday afternoon before making landfall between the Tamil Nadu–Andhra coastline.

The IMD has issued a Red Alert for Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, and Karaikal (UT), warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, while Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kallakurichi, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari are under Orange Alert for heavy to very heavy rains.

Strong winds, reaching speeds of 45–55 kmph and gusting up to 65 kmph, are expected along the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Fishermen have been cautioned against venturing into the sea due to rough conditions.

Local authorities have been advised to remain on high alert, ensure that relief camps are operational, and prepare for potential flooding and power outages.

The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has dispatched disaster response teams across coastal districts and has ramped up monsoon preparedness measures.

Officials are urging residents in low-lying and coastal regions to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and closely monitor weather advisories as the deep depression continues to strengthen over the Bay of Bengal.