Schools and Colleges in Chennai to Remain Shut Today

All schools and colleges in Chennai will remain closed today (Thursday) as well. Due to the ongoing relief work and flooding because of cyclone Michaung, the government has announced a holiday for schools in Chennai on December 7. Schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu have been closed since December 4.

Chennai has been hit by severe floods due to heavy rainfall owing to the cyclonic storm. Several parts of the city experienced no electricity or internet connectivity for 72 hours straight. While the intensity of the rain reduced on December 5, waterlogging was reported in some parts of the city, especially the suburban areas.

On Tuesday, cyclonic storm Michaung crossed Andhra Pradesh close to Baptla and weakened into a deep depression over central coastal Andhra Pradesh, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. “Cyclonic Storm ‘MICHAUNG’ weakened into a Deep Depression over Central Coastal AP. About 100 km north-northwest of Bapatla and 50 km southeast of Khammam. To weaken further into a Depression in the next 06 hours and further into a WML during subsequent 06 hours,” IMD said on microblogging site X.

Chennai and Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur districts have been flooded for the last couple of days even as the government machinery was deployed to clear the stagnant water and inundation. Schools, colleges, and all educational institutes closed.

IMD has also issued a red alert in eight areas of Andhra Pradesh, which include Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, and Kakinada. Heavy rainfall is likely to continue in AP till Thursday.

Further, all the primary, upper primary, high schools and Anganwadi centres in Odisha have been declared shut today due to heavy rainfall, the Office of the Collector and District Magistrate, Gajapati had said earlier. Odisha continues to remain on alert as the intensity of rainfall is likely to increase, according to officials. Light showers were recorded in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kalahandi districts of Odisha till Tuesday evening, and the intensity is likely to increase overnight, officials added.