Schools Shut in Chennai Over Heavy Rainfall, Forecast For More Today; Delhi's AQI Still 'Severe'

All schools in Chennai and Thiruvallur districts have been shut over incessant rainfall in the coastal state over the past few days. The meteorological department has sounded alert for 6 other districts that are likely to get more rain today. On the other hand, the air quality situation in the north has further depleted. Two days after Diwali, Delhi’s air quality continues to be in the ‘severe’ category as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

While speaking to news agency ANI, Chennai District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Zagade said: “Holiday declared for all schools in Chennai District on November 15, due to continuous heavy rainfall in the district.”

The Tiruvallur District administration has announced a holiday for all schools in the district on Wednesday.

District Collector Dr T Prabhushankar stated, “A holiday has been declared for all schools in Tiruvallur District on November 15 due to the continuous heavy rainfall experienced in the region.”

The news agency reported that the Indian Regional Meteorological Department in Chennai, said: “Influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation over the Andaman-Nicobar Islands and adjacent areas of the Andaman Sea and Southeast Bay of Bengal has led to the formation of a low-pressure area in the Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman-Nicobar Islands. The associated cyclonic circulation extends to upper tropospheric levels, tilting southwestward with height. It is expected to move west-northwestward and intensify into a Depression over the West Central Bay of Bengal by around November 16.”

The Chennai Regional Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall in various districts of Tamil Nadu for the next four days.

More Rain Likely Today

On November 15, heavy rain is expected at isolated places in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai districts of Tamil Nadu.

On November 16 and 17, heavy rain is anticipated at isolated places in Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Ariyalur, and Cuddalore districts of Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had declared a holiday for educational institutions, including professional colleges, in Mayiladuthurai District on November 14 in wake of the forecast of heavy rainfall.

Delhi AQI

Two days after Delhi celebrated an all-out Diwali, the national capital’s air quality continues to be in the ‘severe’ category as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The air quality in Anand Vihar is presently at 430, in RK Puram it is 417, in Punjabi Bagh at 423, and 428 in Jahangirpuri.

According to IQAir, a Swiss company that specialises in air quality monitoring, Delhi was the most polluted city in the world on November 13, followed by Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan. Mumbai and Kolkata ranked fifth and sixth among the most polluted cities in the world.

The concentration of fine, lung-damaging particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 increased by 45 per cent and 33 per cent respectively on Diwali compared to last year, according to an analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

Andhra Pradesh: Low Pressure Likely to Intensify into Depression

The India Meteorological Department on Tuesday forecast heavy rainfall in parts of Andhra Pradesh for two days from Tuesday, as an existing low pressure over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a depression.

The department said that parts of South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) and Rayalaseema are expected to receive heavy rainfall. It has also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning in a few more parts of the same region, North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP) and Yanam.

“The low-pressure area over the Southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Andaman & Nicobar Islands with the associated cyclonic circulation extending up to the upper tropospheric level persists. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal on November 15,” said a Meteorological official in a press release.

(With inputs from ANI)