Fresh rain lashes TN

After a brief respite, heavy rain lashed Tamil Nadu, especially the coastal districts, on Monday.

"A fresh trough of a low-pressure area at mean sea level lies over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka coast. Under this influence heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukottai districts during the next 24 hours," S Balachandran, director, area cyclone warning centre, said in the latest bulletin.

Heavy rain is expected at isolated places.

Fishermen were warned that strong winds from northerly to northeasterly direction with speeds reaching 45-55 kmph are likely along and off the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Nagapattinam district recorded the maximum rainfall of 190 mm during the last 24 hours followed by Cuddalore at 150 mm.

Schools, colleges and educational institutions in coastal districts, including Chennai, are still closed.

Though there was rain in the morning, rail and air services in Chennai remained unaffected.

Last week's heavy rain led to an increase in the storage levels of reservoirs supplying drinking water to Chennai.

The Met department statistics revealed that Tamil Nadu received normal rainfall during the present northeast monsoon.