Chennai and adjoining Kanchipuram declare holiday due to heavy rains

In Tamil Nadu, heavy rain is pounding Chennai since yesterday evening, leading to flooding in several areas. Even arterial roads in the city remain affected by waterlogging. Revenue administration has asked private firms in Chennai and adjoining Kanchipuram to declare holiday today or to permit their staff to work from home wherever possible. The downpour in the city led to power cut for many hours in some areas. 

Meanwhile, the weather officials have said more rain is set to continue for the next 24-hours as the low pressure in the South West Bay and adjoining Srilanka persists. Revenue minister RB Udhayakumar and senior officials reviewed the situation in the control room late in the night and directed



officials to make relief measures. 

Heavy rain led three districts including Chennai, Kanchipuram and Pudukottai to declare the holiday for colleges and schools. Three more districts in Tamil Nadu including Tiruvallur, Nagappattinam and Tiruvarur and Karaikkal in Puducherry have announced that schools will be closed today. 

Anna University and Madras University have postponed various examinations. Since last evening, rain gauges in Chennai have recorded 15.4-centimeter rain. Though the heavy rain reminded people of the 2015 December flood, officials said the situation would vastly improve by today as rain has subsided since this morning in the city.