Heavy rain claims 40 lives in Tamil Nadu

At least 40 people died across Tamil Nadu due to heavy rain followed by a deep depression, that devastated Cuddalore district of the State even as another trough of low pressure area threatens more downpour in the region.

Of the total casualties, as many of 27 people died in Cuddalore district alone, including six members of a family in various rain related incidents.

The depression, which crossed the Tamil Nadu coast on Monday night, also damaged crops in more than 1,000 acres besides uprooting several hundred electric poles and trees.In Chennai alone six people, including a two-year-old child, were killed in wall collapse while in Villupuram and Namakal districts the heavy rain claimed three lives.

Several villages in Cuddalore district and neighbouring Chidambaram, which were inundated in the floods, remained totally cut off, affecting thousands of people who were rescued and shifted to relief centres.

In addition, southern districts of the State, including Coimbatore, Erode, Kanniyakumari, Madurai and Trichy, were severely affected by the unprecedented downpour, which continued to pound several districts since Sunday."A new trough of low pressure near Sumatra island will bring heavy rain to Tamil Nadu this week", a senior Met official said on Wednesday evening.According to the latest weather bulletin, isolated heavy rain may occur over southern districts of Coimbatore and Nilgiris, Kerala, and Lakshadweep.