39 die in heavy rains in Tamil Nadu

Fourteen people died in rain related incidents in Tamil Nadu on Monday, taking the toll from the heavy downpour over past two weeks to 39. The weather office has predicted more north-east monsoon showers in the state.

The police said nine deaths were reported reported in the Niligiris, two in Tiruvarur and one each in Vellore, Villupuram and Tiruvanamalai.

Of the total toll, 10 people have died in Niligiris district alone so far, official sources said.

Five people died in Tiruvarur district, while four in Villupuram district, three in Dindigul, two each in Cuddalore, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli and one each in Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Tiruvanamalai, Vellore, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Madurai, Kaniyakumari and Theni districts.

Most of the deaths, from October 27 till date, were due to wall and roof collapses, electrocution and land slides, the police said, and added that many houses were also damaged in several parts of the state.

Regional Meteorological Director S R Ramanan said low pressure still persisted over Lakshwadeep area and it might concentrate into a depression.

He said that under the influence of this system, heavy rain was likely to occur over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 24 hours beginning 8.30 am on Monday.

Official sources said five people, including three children, died on Monday when mounds of earth came down crashing on their house at Mandad village on the (Udhagamandalam)

Ooty-Coonoor Road, about 8 km from Chennai, while they were asleep in the early hours.

Traffic was disrupted at many places, sources said, adding that 60 house-collapses were reported in the district over the last couple of days.

Two women, living in adjacent houses at Talayathmand near Udhagamandalam, got buried in a landslide following heavy rains, they said.

Coonoor and Udhagamandalam recorded 34 cm rain, which was the highest among districts, while Kodaikanal in Dindigul district recorded 18 cm from Sunday morning to 8.30 am on Monday.

Chennai city alone recorded 4.4 cm of rain in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Monday.

Fishermen were warned not to venture out into the sea, as strong winds with speed reaching 50-60 kmph were likely along the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast.

Several parts of the city were flooded and many roads waterlogged and traffic thrown out of gear. Metro officials said reservoirs in the city also received considerable inflow following heavy rains in the catchment areas.