Tamil Nadu School Holiday: Coonoor, Kotagiri schools shut today due to heavy rain

In the wake of continuous heavy downpours in Tamil Nadu, districts across the southern state grapple with severe weather disturbances. In Coimbatore district, Mettuapalayam witnessed the season's most intense rainfall, measuring a staggering 37 cm within 24 hours. The deluge prompted the Nilgiris district collector to declare a shutdown of all government and private schools in Coonoor and Kotagiri today, citing the unrelenting precipitation.

Torrential rains wreaked havoc on various parts of Coimbatore, causing extensive waterlogging and resulting in extensive traffic snarls in the textile hub. Notably, near the Ramanathapuram signal, roads were submerged under pools of rainwater, severely impacting commuting. Quick intervention by Ramanathapuram Traffic Division Special Assistant Inspectors Anbazagan and Murugaswamy proved instrumental in clearing the waterlogged roads after dedicated efforts.

In Thoothukodi, heavy rains led to a tree falling on a truck, disrupting traffic for nearly two hours. The Kalgukumalai fire department and local police collaborated to swiftly remove the tree, alleviating the traffic standstill on the Mettupalayam and Coonoor route. Landslides in the area compelled authorities to redirect public traffic to the Mettupalayam-Kotagiri route.


The inclement weather also prompted the Indian Railways to suspend services along the Nilgiri Mountain Rail Route between Coonoor and Mettupalayam due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. Mudslides obstructed tracks at Hillguro, necessitating the suspension for safety reasons.

The forecast indicates a continued spell of light to moderate rains across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. The Indian Meteorological Department warns of thunderstorms and lightning in certain Tamil Nadu regions, while isolated heavy rainfall is expected in specific districts, including Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Kancheepuram.

The regional weather forecast department of Tamil Nadu alerts to anticipated rains in districts like Thrivallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tirunelveli, and Thotukudi. Moreover, IMD forecasts heavy rainfall in select districts for the upcoming days, emphasizing preparedness in Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Pudukkottai districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal area on Saturday.

The relentless downpours have led to widespread disruptions, forcing closures of schools in multiple districts, including Coonoor and Kotagiri. The situation remains precarious with traffic congestions, waterlogging, and incidents of vehicles getting stranded, compelling collaborative efforts by authorities and local departments to manage the chaos caused by the heavy rains in the region.

(With inputs from ANI)