The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a weather alert ahead of Diwali for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, forecasting heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm in some areas on October 21. Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is also expected at isolated places on Diwali day. The bulletin identifies multiple districts – Erode, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Karaikal, Mayiladuthurai, Viluppuram, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore and Nagapattinam – with rainfall estimates ranging from 64.5 mm to 111.5 mm. For instance, Nilgiris’ Kotagiri registered 137 mm; Kovilankulam in Virudhunagar recorded 135.4 mm; Makkinampatti in Coimbatore had 119 mm. The forecast also noted that a low-pressure system is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal around October 21 and move west-northwest, potentially deepening into a depression. In Chennai, residents were advised to brace for rainfall and monitor official updates; evacuations were ordered from low-lying coastal and vulnerable zones.
