Sunday's depression over Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep one in early hours of Monday. According to Meteorological department, the system is likely to cross Tamil Nadu coast near Puducherry by afternoon.
It now lies over southwest Bay of Bengal about 180 km southeast of Chennai and 110 km east-southeast of Puducherry. It would move west- northwest wards and cross the North Tamil Nadu coast near Puducherry between noon and 2.30 p.m.
Surface wind is expected blow at a speed gusting of up to 70 km per hour.
Many weather stations in coastal areas recorded over 10 cm of rainfall over the past 24 hours. Chennai has received nearly 14 cm till 8.30 a.m. Monday.
Schools, colleges shut
The directorates of school and college education have declared a holiday on Monday > following heavy rain in the three districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.
Announcements had been made by the government in this regard on Sunday night, said school education officials. According to R. Sekar, the director of college education, all exams that were to be held on Monday had been postponed. "The respective universities will announce when they have rescheduled the exams," Dr. Sekar said.
Exams for law students
The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University has, however, decided to go ahead with the exams. Officials in the University of Madras said it had declared a holiday for all the colleges in its jurisdiction but individual colleges could take a call. The university administration will function as usual, officials said.
