Heavy Rains Force School Closures and Disrupt Lives in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh

Amid heavy rainfall and landslides in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiri district, officials have declared school holidays. Andhra Pradesh and Kerala also experience significant disruption. Floodwaters in low-lying areas exacerbate the situation, prompting an orange alert from the India Meteorological Department.

In the wake of persistent and heavy rainfall coupled with landslides, Nilgiri district officials in Tamil Nadu have declared school holidays for several regions. District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneru announced the closure of educational institutions in Ooty, Gudalur, Kundha, and Pandalu, as relentless rainfall has plagued the district for five days.

Additional school holidays have been declared in Udkai, Kunta, Kudalur, and Bandalur. Continuous downpours have resulted in landslides and the collapse of trees, significantly impeding traffic flow. Authorities are actively working to clear the roads and restore normalcy in transportation.

Floodwaters have inundated homes in Kudalur and Bandalur, severely affecting residents in low-lying areas. The Avalanchi area recorded the maximum rainfall at 21 cm, with Cherangode receiving 12.6 cm, Upper Bhawani 12 cm, and Bandalur 10.4 cm.

Similarly, Andhra Pradesh's Alluri Seetharamaraju district declared a holiday for all educational institutions due to widespread rains. Kerala's Kottayam district also faced significant distress as floodwaters submerged homes and roads, with western parts such as Thiruvarppu, Illikkal, and Pathinarilchira experiencing severe waterlogging. Mangaluru city in Karnataka was similarly affected by heavy rainfall.

The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for isolated regions in Kerala, anticipating further very heavy rainfall. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)