With the low-pressure system formed over the Southeast Bay of Bengal expected to intensify into a depression, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday, 12 December, warned of extremely heavy rains in 23 districts of Tamil Nadu, including coastal and delta regions.
In the Sembiyan Mahadevi village in Nagapattinam, an eighth-grade student lost his life after the sidewall of a tiled house collapsed due to heavy rains. His parents and sister sustained injuries and have been admitted to the hospital for treatment.
In light of the heavy rains, a holiday has been declared for educational institutions in several districts. Rain has also affected the operations of the Chennai International Airport.
The rains have disrupted public life with waterlogging and flooding in several districts.
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Wall collapse kills one
The sidewall of a house collapsed in Vinayakanthoppu Street of Sembiyan Mahadevi Panchayat in the Nagapattinam district. Murugadas and Lakshmi, the parents of the victim, were living in their own tiled house with their son and daughter.
On Wednesday night, while they were sleeping, heavy rains unexpectedly caused the sidewall of their house to collapse, falling onto their 13-year-old son, Kaviyalagan.
Neighbours immediately took the boy from under the debris and rushed him to Orathur Medical College Hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The parents and their daughter, who sustained minor injuries, are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The deceased boy, Kaviyalagan, was an eighth-grade student at a government higher secondary school in the Sembiyan Mahadevi area. The incident has left his family devastated, with relatives and parents in tears, and the community in deep shock.
Flights delayed
Due to heavy rains, the departure of 15 flights from Chennai has been delayed. Incoming flights to Chennai are being permitted to land only after careful inspection of the runway conditions.
Flights landing in Chennai are experiencing delays of approximately 10 to 20 minutes. International flights departing from Chennai to Sharjah, Dubai, Sri Lanka, and Singapore have also been delayed. Additionally, domestic flights heading to Andaman, Delhi, Tiruchirappalli, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Kochi, and Kozhikode are facing delays.
Since this morning, heavy rainfall has been lashing Vellore, Katpadi, Sathuvachari, and surrounding areas in Vellore district. Due to the persistent rain, schools were declared closed, while colleges remained operational.
Light to heavy rainfall has been reported intermittently across Tirupathur, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Jolarpet, and Natrampalli.
Heavy rains have been lashing the Ranipet district for over six hours since the early morning of Thursday, disrupting the lives of residents and severely impacting local businesses.
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Holidays for schools
The incessant downpour has significantly affected various areas, including Walajahpet, Ranipet, Muthukadai, Arcot, Sholinghur, Kaveripakkam, Ocheri, Kalavai, Valapandal, SIPCOT, and Nemili.
Streets and roads were seen flooded, resembling flowing streams, making it challenging for vehicles to pass through. Motorists were forced to drive with their headlights on, navigating through the waterlogged roads amidst the relentless rain.
Considering the safety of students, Tirupathur District Collector Tharmakaraj and Ranipet District Collector Chandrakalaannounced a holiday for all government and private schools in the district.
However, it was announced that government and private colleges would continue to function as usual. College students were seen making their way to classes in the rain, carrying umbrellas to protect themselves from the downpour.
In Tirunelveli district, holidays have been declared only for classes 1 to 5. Meanwhile, the rain also led to the postponement of exams scheduled at Thiruvalluvar University.
The rain has not only disrupted daily life but has also brought business operations to a standstill. However, traders at the Uzhavar Sandhai (farmers’ market) were seen selling goods while standing under umbrellas, braving the rain to continue their business.
Schools and colleges are closed in Tiruvannamalai, Puducherry and Karaikal while only schools are closed in Chennai, Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Tiruvarur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Ariyalur, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Karur, Thoothukudi, Tirupattur. , and Vellore
The Directorate of School Education has announced the postponement of half-yearly exams in districts where holidays have been declared.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
