Chennai and many parts of Tamil Nadu have been inundated with continuous rainfall for the last 24 hours. Chennai saw between 12cm and 17 cm of rainfall on Sunday, according to the Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam stations respectively. Tiruttani received 5 cm of rainfall while Vellore and Cuddalore received 4 cm each.
The Regional Meteorological Department in Chennai states that more rain is foreseen over the next few days. SB Thampi, Deputy Director General of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, told The New Indian Express, “The next four days is going to bring heavier showers than the weekend.”
School, colleges shut
A holiday has been announced for schools and colleges in Chennai on November 16. The University of Madras and Anna University have rescheduled all exams that were to be held on Monday. Anna University has also postponed the November 16 and 18 exams to be held in their departments and affiliated colleges.
Similarly, the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University has postponed all its November 16 exams while SRM University has declared November 16 as a holiday. Vellore Institute of Technology has also announced a holiday. Annamalai University has given its students a holiday till November 18 and exams have been cancelled till November 23.
Education Department issues safety norms for students
A circular has been sent by Dr S Kannappan, director of school education, to everyone on what precautions schools need to take at this point.
Schools have been asked to not allow students near compound walls and trees (if not stable) are to be removed from the campus. All electrical equipment and switches are to be checked for safty and not be operated by students. Damaged classrooms are to be kept locked. Schools and parents have also been asked not to allow children near water bodies and not venture out as they may be struck by lightning.
The circular also highlights diseases like dengue and chikungunya and states that if any student has the symptoms of these diseases they must be taken to the doctor immediately.