Six more persons have died in rain related incidents in Tamil Nadu, taking the toll from heavy northeast monsoon showers to 80 since its onset two weeks ago as weathermen on Sunday forecast more rains in the state in the next two days.
After a brief respite, several parts of the state were again lashed by heavy rains in the last two days under the influence of low pressure area in the Indian Ocean (in Comerin area) and fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea.
In Dharmapuri district, three children died in a house collapse. One person was electrocuted and another washed away in Kanyakumari District while one died due to lightning strike in Tiruvallur district since Saturday, officials said.
The hilly Nilgiris District, badly hit by the rain fury with over 40 deaths and many areas cut off due to landslips, was lashed by rains affecting relief work. District officials declared holiday for schools and colleges till Tuesday.
The Met office said the low pressure area has now extended up to West Central Bay across Gulf of Mannar and South West Bay of Tamil Nadu and isolated heavy to very heavy rain was likely to occur over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala in the next 48 hours. Isolated heavy rain is also likely to occur over Lakshadweep in the same period.
Gingee (Villupuram District) recored the maximum of 18 cm rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Sunday. Chennai recorded six cm of rainfall during the same period, Met office said.
