As the city battles unrelenting rainfall brought by Cyclone Fengal, authorities have opted to keep schools and colleges open in Bengaluru, even as several other districts in Karnataka have declared closures due to heavy rains.
Cyclone Fengal, which began affecting southern Karnataka on Sunday evening, has caused widespread showers and a sudden drop in temperatures. With rainfall continuing through Monday, many districts such as Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Udupi, Mysuru, and Chikkaballapur have declared holidays for schools and colleges on Tuesday (December 3).
In some districts, including Chamarajanagar, all institutions except for degree colleges holding exams have been granted a day off. Similarly, schools and Anganwadis in Chikkamagaluru will remain closed due to the weather conditions.
However, Bengaluru schools are unaffected by the weather warnings, despite a Yellow Alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for the region. The Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban district confirmed that schools and colleges would function as usual on Tuesday, with no holiday declared, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Parents raise concerns over students’ safety
The decision to keep schools open amid the heavy rainfall has raised concerns among many parents in the city. On social media, numerous parents voiced their worries, highlighting the safety risks posed by flooded streets and poor visibility. One concerned parent wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Please declare a holiday in Bengaluru schools. With such heavy rains and flooded roads, is it safe for kids to travel?” Others shared similar concerns, urging authorities to reconsider the decision given the hazardous weather conditions.
While there were calls for a citywide holiday, the authorities maintained that the situation did not warrant such a drastic step, especially since the Yellow Alert signifies moderate rainfall risks, which have not been deemed severe enough to shut down educational institutions.
IMD issues red, orange, yellow alerts for Karnataka
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued various weather warnings for different parts of Karnataka in response to Cyclone Fengal’s ongoing impact:
- Red Alert: Kodagu
- Orange Alert: Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and Ramanagara
- Yellow Alert: Mandya, Hassan, and Bengaluru
These alerts reflect the varying levels of rainfall expected across the state, with red and orange alerts highlighting areas that could experience heavy rain, while the yellow alert indicates moderate rainfall conditions.
When will rain stop in Bangalore?
As the rains continue to affect Bengaluru and other parts of the state, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. According to the IMD, the heavy rainfall that has been battering Bengaluru since Sunday is expected to ease by Tuesday, with only light to moderate showers forecasted for the following day. C S Patil, Director of IMD Bengaluru, confirmed that the widespread rainfall is a direct result of Cyclone Fengal’s influence. He stated, “While Bengaluru will see relief starting tomorrow, some coastal areas may experience lingering heavy showers.”
The IMD further predicted that by December 4, the rain would significantly reduce across the region, with dry weather expected by December 6. This forecast offers much-needed hope for residents, as Bengaluru prepares to return to normalcy in the coming days.
