Heavy rains in Puducherry; holiday for schools, colleges

Heavy rains in the last 24 hours have paralysed normal life in the union territory, which has declared a holiday for schools and colleges.

The union territory received 80mm of rain in the last 24 hours, ending at 8.30am.

Low lying areas were inundated and traffic snarls were seen on most main thoroughfares.

Chief minister V Vaithilingam, in a press release, declared that all schools and colleges, including privately managed institutions would remain closed today.

He said the government has constituted a committee under the head of the district collector G Ragesh Chandra to respond to calls for help. Local bodies had been given special funds under a contingency plan to take up relief work, he said.

Meanwhile, the collector in a release, said all schools and community halls had been kept ready to house people evacuated from low lying areas. Control rooms have also been set up, he said.

An official source said Puducherry had recorded 365mm rainfall since the onset of the Northeast monsoon on November 1.