Tamil Nadu is on high alert as the weather department forecasts heavy rain across several districts over the next two days. Schools have been closed in the worst-affected areas as a precaution.

The northeast monsoon has strengthened, and coastal districts could see very heavy downpours. Chennai’s civic body has kept pumps and rescue boats ready in low-lying areas that flood every year. Control rooms are monitoring the situation round the clock.

District collectors have been asked to stay on standby. People living near rivers and lakes have been advised to move to safer places if water levels rise. The state disaster management team said all departments are on alert.

Officials said the rain is expected to ease by the weekend. Until then, residents should avoid unnecessary travel and follow official updates. Fishermen have been told not to venture into the sea. The state government said relief camps are ready if evacuations become necessary. Power department teams have also been asked to respond quickly to outages.