If you're living in southern India, you've probably spent the last few days glued to weather updates. The skies have opened up, and the continuous downpour has turned daily life upside down, especially for students and parents. It's that time of year again—the northeast monsoon is here, and it's making its presence felt with school closures announced across several districts in Tamil Nadu due to safety concerns over waterlogging and transport disruptions.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Schools in five Tamil Nadu districts, including Thoothukudi and Madurai, were closed due to relentless rainfall.
- ✓ The IMD has forecast more heavy rain for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Lakshadweep due to a low-pressure area.
- ✓ Two potential cyclones, Cyclone Ditwah and Cyclone Senyar, have put southern states on high alert.
- ✓ Thoothukudi Mayor Jegan Periyasamy addressed waterlogging concerns, promising to widen the 7km Puckle canal.
- ✓ An orange alert has been issued in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall up to 204 mm.
The Immediate Impact: Schools Shut Down
The decision came swiftly on Monday morning. Officials in Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, and Madurai districts declared a holiday for all schools. District Collector Praveenkumar made the announcement, citing the obvious safety risks and the general chaos that heavy, continuous rain can cause for students trying to get to school.
You know how it is—low-lying areas get waterlogged almost instantly, making roads impassable and creating a real headache for everyone. The district administration confirmed they are working hand-in-hand with the meteorological department to keep a close eye on the situation. For now, it’s a wait-and-see game, with further decisions about reopening schools depending entirely on how the weather behaves in the coming days.
A Deeper Dive: The Northeast Monsoon and Local Response
So, what's causing this intense weather? It's the northeast monsoon, also known as the winter monsoon. It typically rolls in between October and December and is the southern peninsula's smaller-scale counterpart to the more famous southwest monsoon. While essential for the region, it often brings these periods of intense, disruptive rainfall.
Down in Thoothukudi, the local government has been busy. At a recent corporation council meeting, Mayor Jegan Periyasamy assured the public that his team acted swiftly to clear stagnant rainwater, preventing major disruptions. He proudly stated that any waterlogging was handled immediately. However, not everyone in the council shared his optimistic view.
AIADMK councillors Veerabagu and Mandhiramoorthy raised some important concerns. They pointed out that despite the mayor's assurances, areas around the district court campus and the Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital were significantly waterlogged. They reminded the council of the corporation's earlier promise that water wouldn't stagnate anywhere in the city.
Plans, Promises, and Puckle Canal
In response, Mayor Periyasamy acknowledged the heavy rainfall recorded on October 20, November 22, and 23. He conceded that wards 16 and 17 did experience stagnation because they lacked proper drainage. However, he insisted the water was pumped out within three days and that new stormwater drain routes are already under construction for these areas.
The bigger news from the meeting was the plan for the Puckle canal, a major stormwater drain that stretches for seven kilometers through the city. The mayor announced that a project to widen the canal is set to begin in January. "As rainfall is expected to continue till January, continuous monitoring is being carried out," he said, vowing that all measures were in place to prevent public hardship. The meeting, which also saw the passing of 17 resolutions including an ₹8.04 crore allotment for sanitation workers' meals, was attended by key officials like Corporation Commissioner S. Priyanka and Deputy Mayor S. Jenitta.
Looking Ahead: Cyclone Alerts Loom Large
Just as everyone was getting used to the monsoon rains, a new threat has emerged on the horizon. Weather reports are now buzzing with talk of Cyclone Ditwah and Cyclone Senyar, which are expected to bring another round of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. This has put authorities in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh on high alert.
An orange alert has already been issued for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, which is a serious warning to prepare for disruptions. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has put out some daunting figures: they're forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall, between 64mm and 204mm in a 24-hour period, over northern Tamil Nadu until December 1. Even more concerning are the predictions for extremely heavy spells—over 204mm—on November 29 and 30. With numbers like these, more school closures seem almost inevitable.
How Other States Are Bracing for Impact
The weather system isn't just confined to Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, heavy rainfall is expected between November 27 and 29, and authorities are ready to announce school holidays if conditions worsen. Parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are also bracing for moderate to heavy rain, with officials keeping a close watch on the situation.
Meanwhile, up north, the concerns are different but equally pressing. In Delhi, schools have returned to offline classes, but the city's air quality remains in the 'very poor' to 'severe' range. To minimize exposure, schools in Noida and Ghaziabad have allowed online classes for younger students. Over in Uttar Pradesh, most schools are back to normal after election-related breaks, but a few districts have announced holidays based on local conditions.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that southern India is in for a challenging period of weather. Between the active northeast monsoon and the looming threat of Cyclones Ditwah and Senyar, disruptions are likely to continue. The immediate school closures in five Tamil Nadu districts are a necessary precaution, and it's clear that authorities across the region are on high alert. For parents and students, the best advice is to stay tuned to official announcements from your local district administration for the latest updates.
