Holiday for schools and govt offices in Chennai, three neighbouring dists

IN view of the extremely heavy rain forecast, the state government on Tuesday declared October 16 as a public holiday for government offices including the offices of public undertakings/ corporations, boards, etc, schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts.

The shops and commercial establishments will function as usual. The private offices in Chennai have been advised to function with the least number of employees or give their employees to work from home on October 16.

All essential services - police, fire and rescue services, local bodies, milk supply water supply hospitals/medical shops, banks, financial institutions, power supply, transport of vegetables, goods and other essential goods, transport, Metropolitan Transport Corporation, MRTS, metro rail, railways, airport, airline services, port services, export and import institutions, fuel outlets, hotels/restaurants, etc, and all the offices engaged in disaster response, relief and rescue activities will function as usual.

The release said between October 1 and 14, the state received 10.52cm of rainfall which is 68% higher than the normal during this period.