Chennai rain: Schools shut in five Tamil Nadu districts as heavy downpour lashes city
Schools in five districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, were closed on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) after heavy rain lashed the region overnight. The Collectors of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu declared a holiday for schools, and a similar order was issued in Ranipet district, district authorities said.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), several places in and around Chennai received heavy rainfall until 6 a.m. on Wednesday. The weather station at Meenambakkam recorded 12 cm and Nungambakkam 11 cm. Taramani recorded 10 cm, Madhavaram 9 cm, and Villivakkam and Nandanam 8 cm each.
The RMC has said a fresh weather system is likely to sustain heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu until October 26, indicating that the wet spell may continue over the coming days.
Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources N. Anand inspected areas affected by waterlogging in his T. Nagar Assembly constituency. He instructed officials to drain stagnant water swiftly using motor pumps. The Minister said the ongoing Metro Rail works had led to water stagnation in several parts of T. Nagar, a busy commercial and residential area in central Chennai.
Tamil Nadu receives the bulk of its annual rainfall during the northeast monsoon, which normally sets in around mid-October and continues into December. The Chennai region depends heavily on this season to recharge its reservoirs, including Chembarambakkam, Poondi and Puzhal, even as intense spells often cause localised flooding in low-lying neighbourhoods and on arterial roads.
District Collectors are empowered to declare holidays for schools and other educational institutions in their jurisdictions when weather conditions pose a risk to students and staff. Such closures are usually announced as a precaution, particularly where roads are inundated or public transport is disrupted. Administrations generally review the situation each morning during spells of heavy rain.
Rainfall in local weather bulletins is measured in centimetres, with one centimetre equal to 10 millimetres. Under the India Meteorological Department's classification, 24-hour rainfall of 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm is described as "heavy", 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm as "very heavy", and anything above 204.4 mm as "extremely heavy".
Heavy rain in the city has in past years exposed gaps in stormwater drainage, with water stagnation slowing traffic on key roads and disrupting daily commutes. The Minister's remarks on Wednesday pointed to infrastructure work as one factor behind the flooding in T. Nagar.
Authorities have not released any assessment of rain-related damage or casualties so far. Residents have been advised to follow updates issued by the India Meteorological Department and district administrations before stepping out, and to avoid crossing inundated roads and causeways.
