Schools open in Tamil Nadu, despite IMD heavy rain alert; Parents demand holiday

Heavy rain hit several parts of Tamil Nadu's Thiruvarur district early on Monday, disrupting daily life and leaving students struggling to reach their schools and colleges, which stayed open. Many students were seen making their way to class in the morning, soaked by the downpour and wading through waterlogged roads.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast heavy rain with strong winds across the region. Even so, the district administration did not declare a holiday for educational institutions. 

The decision to keep schools and colleges functional amid the worsening weather has drawn sharp reactions from parents, who expressed deep concern over their children's safety and well-being.

Citing the weather department's warnings of continued wet spells and gusty winds, parents urged the district collector and local administration to review the situation and promptly declare a holiday for schools and colleges.

 Normal life in several low-lying areas of the delta district has been impacted as rain continues to pound the area, with residents and commuters navigating rain-lashed roads and sluggish traffic.

 Tourists have been barred from visiting Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu amid a heavy rain warning as the northeast monsoon intensifies.

 Police are monitoring the situation and turning back vehicles carrying tourists as a precautionary measure in view of the weather warning. Meanwhile, the cyclonic storm over the east-central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight on Monday and further into a very severe cyclonic storm by October 27, Visakhapatnam Meteorological Department Director P.L.N. Murthy said.

"The cyclone is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam during the forenoon of October 28, with wind speeds of 115 to 125 kmph, gusting up to 140 kmph, at the time of landfall," he said.

"The system is currently moving west-northwestwards, and heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is forecast across coastal Andhra Pradesh over the next 48 hours," he said.

According to the district-wise rainfall forecast, extremely heavy rainfall is likely on October 27 in Konaseema, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari and Eluru districts.

"Very heavy rainfall is expected in Bapatla, Krishna, Guntur, NTR, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam and Srikakulam districts on the same day.

On October 28, very heavy rainfall is likely in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Parvathipuram Manyam districts, while extremely heavy rainfall is expected in the remaining districts of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh," he said.

Meanwhile, fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea from Monday until October 29 in view of the anticipated adverse weather conditions.

Distant Warning Signal Number 2 has been hoisted at ports from Visakhapatnam to Machilipatnam and Ongole as a precautionary measure.