The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on 16 November placed Tamil Nadu, Kerala, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema under a three-day heavy-rain and thunderstorm watch, warning of gusts up to 50 km/h. The alert—triggered by a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal—comes at the start of peak business-travel season and could upend corporate mobility plans.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials told local media that contingency runway inspections are under way at Chennai, Kochi and Trivandrum airports. Airlines have begun waiving rescheduling fees for travel through 18 November. Indian Railways’ Southern Zone said low-lying tracks near Madurai and Tirunelveli may face waterlogging, and advised passengers to check train status before departure.
![IMD Issues Heavy-Rain Alert: Flights and Trains Likely to Face Disruptions Across South India]()
The region is a manufacturing hub for automobiles, electronics and IT services, with dozens of expatriate managers commuting weekly between Delhi, Bengaluru and special-economic-zone facilities in Sriperumbudur and Coimbatore. Companies are activating remote-work protocols and instructing assignees to stock essential medicines in case last-mile deliveries are disrupted.
Duty-of-care considerations:
• Monitor employee movements via travel-tracking tools and push real-time alerts on route closures.
• Remind foreign assignees to carry physical copies of visas and FRRO registration when re-routing via secondary airports, as digital copies may not be accepted at manual immigration counters.
• Check health-insurance policies for evacuation clauses, as heavy flooding can overwhelm local hospitals.
The IMD says very heavy rainfall (over 64 mm in 24 h) is “very likely” on 16-17 November; conditions are expected to normalise from 19 November.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials told local media that contingency runway inspections are under way at Chennai, Kochi and Trivandrum airports. Airlines have begun waiving rescheduling fees for travel through 18 November. Indian Railways’ Southern Zone said low-lying tracks near Madurai and Tirunelveli may face waterlogging, and advised passengers to check train status before departure.
The region is a manufacturing hub for automobiles, electronics and IT services, with dozens of expatriate managers commuting weekly between Delhi, Bengaluru and special-economic-zone facilities in Sriperumbudur and Coimbatore. Companies are activating remote-work protocols and instructing assignees to stock essential medicines in case last-mile deliveries are disrupted.
Duty-of-care considerations:
• Monitor employee movements via travel-tracking tools and push real-time alerts on route closures.
• Remind foreign assignees to carry physical copies of visas and FRRO registration when re-routing via secondary airports, as digital copies may not be accepted at manual immigration counters.
• Check health-insurance policies for evacuation clauses, as heavy flooding can overwhelm local hospitals.
The IMD says very heavy rainfall (over 64 mm in 24 h) is “very likely” on 16-17 November; conditions are expected to normalise from 19 November.
