CAT 2025 aspirants brave heavy downpour across Chennai
What Students Must Know
Cyclone Ditwa and the Downpour on Exam Day
CAT 2025 Slot -1 update: 30th November, arrived with a heavy downpour, as Cyclone Ditwa hovered over the southwest Bay of Bengal, it pushed thick, continuous rain bands across Chennai and its neighbouring districts from late night into the early morning. The result was a city soaked completely even before sunrise. The rains triggered by Ditwa were persistent, unpredictable, and disrupted transport when thousands of aspirants were trying to reach their CAT examination centres. Here is what you should know if you are a CAT 2025 aspirant for the afternoon and evening slots.
CAT 2025 Morning Slot Struggles Across the City
The first slot of CAT 2025 became an unexpected endurance test for many students across Chennai. Candidates reaching from Velachery, Pallikaranai, Medavakkam, Porur, Ambattur, and OMR reported wading through ankle-deep water as they left their homes. The situation challenging in specific pockets like Kundrathur and Avadi, where waterlogging in the Mangadu–Kundrathur stretch and the Avadi–HVF Road belt meant that Taxis and Autorickshaws refused to take students.
At the Meenakshi College of Engineering in the KK Nagar–West Mambalam zone, morning-slot students found the surrounding inner streets waterlogged and the stretch from Ashok Pillar and Natesan Nagar clogged with slow-moving traffic. Similarly, candidates assigned to Prince Shri Venkateshwara Padmavathy Engineering College in Mambakkam experienced some challenges too. The Mambakkam–Medavakkam Road was waterlogged, and the major junctions near Arasankazhani and Vandalur–Kelambakkam Road saw congestion due to the rain. Even suburban trains in the Avadi–Ambattur–Thirumullaivoyal section experienced occasional slowdowns. As a result, many students reached their centres wet and anxious while navigating slippery grounds. Though invigilators were understanding and allowed drenched students inside, the anxiety levels were clearly elevated for those who reached closer to reporting cut-off time.
What CAT 2025 Afternoon and Evening Slot Candidates Should Expect
Given that Cyclone Ditwa is continuing to send rain clouds inland, afternoon and evening-slot aspirants must not expect much improvement in weather conditions. The rainfall is likely to persist throughout the day, and waterlogging may worsen in many parts of Chennai. Roads are already slow, and as more candidates start travelling for the next slots, congestion is expected near examination centres.
How to Prepare and Reach Safely for CAT 2025?
Leave Early
Aspirants writing the second or third slot should leave 1 hour earlier than usual, especially if they are heading to centres in Kundrathur, Avadi, Mambakkam, or KK Nagar. The rain intensity linked to Cyclone Ditwa makes traffic unpredictable. Waterproofing your admit card, ID proof, and other important documents using zip-lock pouch inside a waterproof folder is absolutely essential. Wearing rain-ready, quick-dry clothing and footwear will help you. Carrying a small handkerchief to dry your hands and make sure you carry an umbrella or raincoat while you leave your home.
Staying Mentally Steady During a Weather-Induced Crisis
If you arrive drenched or delayed, do not panic. Every morning-slot centre in Chennai allowed soaked candidates to enter, and exam staff were patient and understanding. Once you step inside the exam hall, the atmosphere is calm, clean, and air-conditioned completely different from outside. Before starting the test, take a moment to breathe deeply and ground yourself. A simple cycle of slow inhale, short hold, and long exhale repeated ten times can quickly calm nerves and restore focus. Do not change your test-taking strategy because of the weather; the exam hall environment is controlled and stable, exactly as you prepared for.
Cyclone Ditwa May Test Your Patience, But CAT Will Test Your Preparation
Chennai has faced many weather challenges before, but Cyclone Ditwa struck at a particularly crucial moment for CAT aspirants. Despite the rain, waterlogging, and difficult commutes, thousands of students successfully reached on time for their morning-slot exam. As the afternoon and evening slots approach, your goal is simple: leave early, protect your documents, expect waterlogging, stay calm if you get wet, and focus completely once you are inside the hall. Cyclone Ditwa may be testing the city’s infrastructure, but CAT 2025 will test your preparation, and you are ready for it. Stay safe, Chennai, and good luck to every aspirant heading out in this weather to give their best.