Low pressure inches towards Tamil Nadu coast

As the low pressure inched towards the state’s northern coastline and the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, heavy rain continued to pound Tamil Nadu with no respite in sight.

Twelve more people died in the last 24 hours, taking rain-related deaths in the state to 84 so far. Rain continued to lash the state, especially its northern districts.

"The well-marked low-pressure area over Southwest Bayof Bengal moved in the north-westerly direction and is now lying off north Tamil Nadu coast. It is likely to move further north-west and cross the north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra coast by Monday night or Tuesday morning,” a senior Met official told Deccan Herald.

The official further added that winds gusting up to 55 Km ph would blow across north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh in the next 24 hours, when the low pressure crosses over.

"The system would bring moderate to rather heavy rain over all the districts of Tamil Nadu", he added. 

Normal life was paralysed in Chennai, where disappointed office goers and other commuters stayed indoors.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has joined forces with the district administration to conduct rescue missions on boats along flooded roads.

So far, 80 persons have died in the state, 43 of them in last week’s cyclone-battered Cuddalore.

Five died in Chennai since Sunday evening, while three drowned in Vellore district.
As heavy rain battered Cuddalore since Monday morning, rescue and relief work in the district have slowed down.

With flight operations badly hit, Southern Railway announced cancellation of seven trains scheduled to depart on Monday.

With rivers and water bodies breaching in many places, including in Chennai, officials have been evacuating people from low-lying areas.

Educational institutions in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur will be closed on Tuesday as well.