Chenna:
The persistence of a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal is expected to bring in heavy rain in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next 24 hours, the meterological office said here on Sunday.
"Yesterday's low pressure area over southwest bay off Sri Lanka coast persists. Under its influence isolated heavy rain will occur over North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and during the next 48 hours starting today at 8.30 AM, they said.
Schools in eleven districts including Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Trichy to be shut on Monday.
Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea, they said, strong onshore winds from northerly to northeasterly direction with speeds occasionally toucing 45-55 km are likely along and off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.
Kanyakumari district recorded the maximum rainfall of 5 cm, followed by Puducherry Airport, Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam and Mylaudy (Kanyakumari) four cm each in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am today.
Meanwhile, police said the death toll in rain related incidents in Tamil Nadu since the onset of the North-East monsoon rose to 168 with Cuddalore and Villupuram recording the maxium number of deaths (27 and 20).
A majority of deaths were due to electrocution, wall collpases, lightning and drowning in flood waters. They said more than 1,500 head of cattle have perished in the rains.
Special officers appointed by the government to assess the damages today visited rain affected districts and held meetings with authorities on damage to crops, houses, roads and bridges.