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The city of Chennai, along with its surrounding areas, is bracing for heavy rainfall as the northeast monsoon has officially set in. To ensure the safety of its citizens, the Tamil Nadu government has declared a rain holiday for all educational institutions and government offices, excluding essential services, on October 16, 2024. This decision comes after the intensification of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal into a well-marked low-pressure area, which is predicted to develop into a depression, bringing widespread rainfall to the state.
The announcement, issued by Chief Minister MK Stalin's office, outlines that schools, colleges, and government offices will be closed on October 16. However, crucial services will continue to operate as usual. These include rescue services, local government departments, dairy and drinking water supply departments, hospitals, dispensaries, banks, financial institutions, electricity department, transportation of essential goods, Chennai Metro Rail, MRTS, Railways, Airport, petrol stations, hotels, restaurants, and disaster recovery and relief departments.
Private offices in Chennai have also been advised to encourage their employees to work from home. This decision reflects the proactive measures taken by the government to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens amidst the expected heavy rainfall. To further strengthen preparedness for any potential disasters, Chief Minister MK Stalin has directed the deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force in advance to areas prone to be affected by the intense rainfall. This strategic deployment showcases the state government's commitment to ensuring timely and effective response during the monsoon season.
Source: Rain holiday declared for schools, colleges, govt offices in Chennai, suburbs on 16.10.2024