Chennai rainfall update: Showers weaken, but several suburbs remain underwater; schools shut again

Schools in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts remained closed on Thursday after days of persistent rainfall linked to Cyclonic Storm Ditwah left several neighbourhoods waterlogged and struggling with disrupted mobility.

Chennai District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Jagde extended the holiday for another day, marking the third consecutive closure for schools as intermittent showers and stagnant water continued to affect movement across the city. In neighbouring Tiruvallur, District Collector Pratap declared a holiday only for schools, citing heavy rain in isolated pockets.

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Overnight rain eases, but low-lying areas still flooded

Although showers weakened by Thursday morning, parts of the region remained affected by overnight downpours and steady runoff from surrounding catchments. Traffic moved slowly through several inundated stretches in the southern suburbs, even as the sky briefly cleared, offering residents a short-lived respite.

The Regional Meteorological Centre said rainfall intensity is expected to reduce further within the next 24 hours as the system over the Bay of Bengal continues to weaken. However, the weather office warned that brief, heavy spells may persist in some pockets.

Chengalpattu suburbs face severe flooding

In the Chengalpattu district, several localities continued to receive sharp showers accompanied by thunder and lightning. Kolathur, Balur and Appur, which come under the Chengalpattu and Kattankulathur unions, were among the most affected.

Runoff from the Ninnakarai forest belt surged downhill into the Kairampedu locality, leaving long stretches of the Kuduvanchery–Kottamedu Road under sheets of moving water. At the Perumattunallur bus stand, rainwater lined both sides of the carriageway, creating stream-like flows that forced motorists to slow to a crawl.

Further south, Vishnupriya Nagar near Guduvanchery remained among the worst-hit areas. Most lanes were still waterlogged, and more than a hundred homes reported water entering their premises. The situation has revived concerns about stormwater management in these fast-expanding neighbourhoods.

Officials urge caution despite signs of improvement

While much of Chennai recorded lighter rain this morning, authorities said monitoring would continue in vulnerable areas, particularly low-lying neighbourhoods prone to sudden accumulation. Residents have been advised to remain cautious as intermittent showers are still likely through the day.