Andhra Pradesh school holiday today: Schools, Anganwadi centres shut in 6 districts due to heavy rain

Schools in six districts of Andhra Pradesh will remain closed today, September 23, due to heavy rainfall and the movement of a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal towards the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast.The affected districts are Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju and Anakapalle.The closure also applies to Anganwadi centres in these districts. Authorities have cancelled employees' leave and deployed disaster-response teams in areas considered vulnerable to heavy rain and flooding.Deep depression to cross Andhra-Odisha coastAccording to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the deep depression over the westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal was moving westwards at 12 kmph in the six hours up to 5:30 am on Wednesday.The system was located about 70 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It is expected to move west-northwestwards and cross the North Andhra Pradesh-South Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, close to Kalingapatnam, by Wednesday night.The IMD has ruled out the system intensifying into Cyclone Arnab. It is likely to cross the coast as a deep depression.Heavy rain expected in several Andhra districtsHeavy rainfall is likely in parts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Parvathipuram Manyam, Konaseema, Kakinada, West Godavari, East Godavari and Eluru.The Andhra Pradesh government has deployed State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to deal with the rain and possible flood situation in north coastal parts of the state.Squalls with winds gusting up to 75 kmph are likely along and off the North Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha coasts from the morning of September 23 to the evening of September 24.Winds of 45 to 55 kmph, with gusts up to 65 kmph, are also expected along and off the South Andhra Pradesh coast during September 23 and 24.Students and parents in the affected districts are advised to follow the latest instructions issued by their respective district administrations and schools.Get the latest Education News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.