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The school holiday applies to Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram and Ranipet districts as a precautionary measure amid the intensifying northeast monsoon.
Chennai witnessed widespread rainfall overnight as the northeast monsoon continued to intensify across Tamil Nadu. (Representative/File Photo)
In view of continuous heavy rainfall across Chennai and neighbouring districts, a one-day holiday has been declared for schools in five districts of Tamil Nadu today, Wednesday, October 21. The holiday applies to Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kanchipuram districts as a precautionary measure amid the intensifying northeast monsoon.
District Collectors have announced the closure of schools following persistent rainfall throughout the night in several parts of Chennai and surrounding areas. The decision has been taken primarily to ensure the safety of school students and staff as persistent rainfall may disrupt transportation and create hazardous conditions on roads.
Chennai experienced widespread rainfall overnight as the northeast monsoon continued to gain strength across Tamil Nadu. Several parts of the city witnessed heavy to very heavy showers, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert for Chennai on Tuesday.
The IMD has forecast that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to persist across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until October 26. The prevailing weather conditions are linked to the possible formation of a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Tamil Nadu coast within the next 24 hours.
The weather department has also warned of isolated heavy rainfall across several other regions over the coming days. Lakshadweep is likely to receive heavy showers between October 22 and 26, while Kerala and Mahe may experience heavy rainfall from October 20 to 26. South Interior Karnataka is also expected to witness isolated heavy rain between October 21 and 24. Meanwhile, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema may receive heavy rainfall on October 20 and 21.
According to the IMD, an existing atmospheric circulation over the Bay of Bengal is likely to develop into a low-pressure area within the next 24 hours. As a result, several districts across Tamil Nadu are expected to experience intense rainfall accompanied by strong winds.
Very heavy rainfall, along with winds reaching speeds of up to 50 kmph, is forecast in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts today. Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds is also likely in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Namakkal, Karur, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Madurai, Virudhunagar and Pudukkottai districts. Similar conditions are expected in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram.
The rainfall is expected to intensify in parts of southern Tamil Nadu tomorrow, with the IMD forecasting very heavy showers accompanied by strong winds in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts.
Heavy rainfall is also likely in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Ariyalur, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts.
The holiday announced for October 21 applies to schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kanchipuram districts. No blanket holiday for colleges or other educational institutions has been specified in the announcement. Parents should check notifications from their respective schools and local authorities for any further updates regarding school closures.
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Ask News18A one-day school holiday was declared on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kanchipuram districts due to continuous heavy rainfall.
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October 21, 2026, 07:37 IST
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