Schools shut in Chennai, 3 other districts tomorrow due to heavy rain forecast

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday, October 14, declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur and Chengalpet districts in the anticipation of heavy rainfall with the onset of the northeast monsoon in the next two days.
The meteorogical department has predicted very heavy rainfall of up to 40 cm rainfall for northern coastal districts in Tamil Nadu between October 14 and 17. There are also possibilities of 20 cm rainfall in a single day which could lead to severe water logging in many areas.
Chief Minister MK Stalin has declared holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts for Tuesday and advised IT companies to allow ‘work from home’ from October 15-18.
In a review meeting chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, the Chennai Corporation Commissioner confirmed that comprehensive preparations are in place to tackle heavy rains in the city.
The Chief Minister has issued a directive to place the National Disaster Relief Forces (NDRF) and State Disaster Relief Forces (SDRF) on standby to tackle potential calamities. The teams will be dispatched to vulnerable areas in advance, with additional measures including stationing boats in low-lying regions. Monitoring officers have been asked to reach affected districts, while metro and flying train frequencies will be increased to assist the public.
In Chennai, thorough preparedness is in place, including 990 pumps, 57 tractors with pumps, and 36 mechanised boats. Additionally, 46 tonnes of bleaching powder have been stocked for sanitation purposes. Relief centres across the city are equipped with 169 facilities, 59 JCBs, 272 chainsaws, and 130 water-removal machines.
The Chief Minister has also ensured that essential commodities, including milk, are readily available, and measures are in place to prevent food price hikes. This thorough preparation by the state government aims to mitigate the impact of potential disasters and provide quick relief to affected residents.
The NDRF team from Arokkonam, a suburb in Chennai, is fully equipped with gear, including scuba dive kits, rubber boats, multiple types of chainsaws, and suits necessary for search and rescue operations amid building debris and chemical leaks. They are currently stationed in a community hall at Pudupet. Inspector AK Chauhan reported that the team was ready 24/7, with all leaves cancelled due to the emergency situation, ensuring they could reach any designated spot within 20 minutes.
“All personnel are very alert. The equipment is loaded, and we are fully prepared. The basic challenge we face during urban floods is navigating through unknown water, which could potentially damage our rubberised equipment,” Chauhan said. He urged the public not to panic, reminding them that systematic rescues are essential and that those who did not evacuate during the initial warnings must wait their turn. Chauhan advised the public to take the administration’s evacuation warnings seriously to ensure their safety.