CHENNAI: Schools and colleges in Tiruvallur, Chennai and Kancheepuram districts will remain closed on Wednesday (December 3), for the second day in a row, in the wake of torrential rains and flooding triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. On the other hand, schools alone will remain shut across Chengalpattu tomorrow, as per the district collector's announcement.

As Cyclone Ditwah weakened into a depression and began drifting from Chennai on Tuesday, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) downgraded the red alert issued for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram. An orange alert, however, was later in place for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu, while a yellow alert was issued for Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Puducherry, Kallakurichi and Cuddalore, for December 2.

The depression was around 80 km from Chennai and 60 km from Puducherry, tracking south-southwestwards at 3 kmph, as per today's 5.30 pm bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It is expected to move towards the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast and further weaken into a well-marked low pressure area in the next 12 hours, the weather department said.

Under its influence, Nilgiris, Erode, Coimbatore may get very heavy rain while Theni, Dindigul, Tirupur, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Salem and Namakkal may see heavy spells tomorrow, December 3, according to the RMC's forecast earlier today.