Death toll crosses 70 as Tamil Nadu goes under

People wade through a waterlogged street following heavy rains at Vyasarpadi in Chennai

Chennai: The Northeast monsoon continued to wreak havoc in Tamil Nadu, with rains pounding the northern coastal districts and more being forecast for the coming days in the state, where the death toll has climbed to 71.

Photos: Heavy rains throw life out of gear in Tamil Nadu

Land ahoy? People wade through a waterlogged street following heavy rains at Vyasarpadi in Chennai. Pic/PTI

Normal life has gone haywire across the state as downpour led to inundation of large areas and authorities have shut down educational institutions. The weather office had predicted downpour for the next three days in the state, Puducherry and coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Overnight rains pounded Chennai and its suburbs, giving citizens a harrowing time. Subways at T Nagar and Saidapet in the city were inundated, resulting in their closure. The District Administration had declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the wake of the heavy downpour that had severely affected roads.

The well-marked low pressure over Southwest Bay of Bengal off Tamil Nadu that had brought incessant rains is likely to move north-westwards towards north Tamil Nadu coast and could concentrate into a depression during next 24 hours, the
weather office said.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls occurred at a few places over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at isolated places over Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh between 8.30 am (Sunday) and 8.30 am (Monday).

Rs 4lakh Compensation announced for the family of the victims