Heavy rain continues to batter TN

Heavy rain battering Tamil Nadu from Tuesday evening is expected to continue during the next 24 hours due to the active low pressure over the Bay of Bengal.

The latest weather bulletin on Wednesday evening said heavy to very heavy rain would occur over northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Isolated heavy rain may occur over remaining parts of the state.

“A trough of low pressure, which has turned into a well-marked low pressure area over south west bay of Tamil Nadu off the Sri Lankan coast still persists. Under its influence, heavy rain is likely to occur at most places in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 24 hours,” a senior Met official here said on Wednesday.

He said the low pressure might turn into a deep depression, which is expected to move in a westerly direction.

Normal life severely affected in several parts of the state, especially in the coastal Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts due to heavy rain, which continue to lash the region since Tuesday.

A holiday was declared for schools and educational institutions in several places on Wednesday due to downpour.

The Met official said fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea as it would remain very rough along Tamil Nadu coast during the next 48 hours. Meanwhile, on Tuesday morning, heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds lashed Chennai, inundating low-laying areas and throwing vehicular traffic out of gear across the city.