The government has declared holiday for all educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions on Friday in view of heavy rain and an alert issued by the India Meteorological Department.

Development Commissioner and chief secretary in-charge A. Anbarasu told The Hindu that the administration had shifted its focus to Karaikal as Cyclone Gaja was expected to make a landfall closer to the region.

Karaikal region had received heavier rain when compared to Puducherry. An official in the Public Works Department said Karaikal had received 10 mm of rainfall till Thursday evening.

Mr. Anbarasu said the government had posted Shashvat Saurabh, an Indian Administrative Service officer, to assist the Karaikal Collector in relief and rehabilitation work in the region. The district administration had opened around 20 relief camps, mostly government schools there, to accommodate people in case of heavy flooding or damage to houses.

Around 300 people had moved to the relief camp, he said. The district administration had identified 500 huts close to the sea and water bodies.

One company of the National Disaster Response Force had been put on alert, Mr. Anbarasu said.

Flights suspended

As the region remained cloudy, flight services from Puducherry airport were suspended on Thursday and Friday.

The district administration had identified 14 low lying areas, including Rainbow Nagar, Krishna Nagar and Pavanan Nagar,

Eighty four relief camps had been kept ready for evacuation in case of flooding.

Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, Public Works Minister A, Namassivayam and Revenue Minister M.O.H.F Shahjahan held separate meetings to review the situation.

Exams put off

Annamalai University had postponed all examinations scheduled on Friday. Revised dates would be announced later, a press note said.

Pondicherry

University has postponed examinations for all courses across its affiliated colleges scheduled for Friday. The new dates for the examinations at centres in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, Yanam and Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be announced later, a press note said.