Several parts of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry continued to reel under heavy rains for the fourth day on Tuesday as Chief Minister Jayalalithaa deputed four of her Cabinet colleagues to the worst hit Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts, while more rains are forecast over the next two days with a new low pressure forming over the Bay of Bengal.
With 10 more persons losing their lives since Monday, the total number of deaths in rain-related incidents from Oct 1 has risen to 139 in the state, official sources said.
Karaikal, an enclave of Pondicherry, recorded the highest rainfall of 30 cms in the 24 hour period ending at 8 am on Tuesday, while Nagapattinam, which was devastated by the Tsunami, bore the brunt of the rains, receiving 28 cms, the highest in the state during the period.
After reviewing the flood situation, Jayalalithaa also deputed a senior IAS officer each for the two districts to assist the administration, while her Pondicherry counterpart N Rangasamy sought a central assistance of Rs 150 crore.
Relief and rescue operations were being taken up in the affected areas and food packets were being distributed.
Though Chennai was spared of heavy rains, low-lying areas continue to remain under waist-deep water following last weekend's rains. In several areas, sewage water got mixed with potable water sources, causing hardships to people.
{{/usCountry}}Though Chennai was spared of heavy rains, low-lying areas continue to remain under waist-deep water following last weekend's rains. In several areas, sewage water got mixed with potable water sources, causing hardships to people.
{{/usCountry}}An imminent flood threat to the city was averted after a breach in the Arapat lake at suburban Ambattur was plugged by authorities, but many other lakes in the outlying suburbs continued to overflow with more inflows, inundating low-lying areas.