Heavy rain batters Chennai, rest of Tamil Nadu, 55 dead, many flights cancelled

Chennai: Heavy Rain continued to lash Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu including Vellore and Kanchipuram. Seven people lost their lives in rain related incidents across the state, taking the toll to 55.

With Chennai receiving 15 cms of rain on Thursday, the Chennai collector declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the city owing to heavy rainfall. This was the third such rain holiday this week.

The rains continued to disrupt normal life in Tamil Nadu's capital and several other areas of the state. Several neighbourhoods in Chennai were inundated with commuters facing a harrowing time motoring through waterlogged roads and traffic snarls.

Trains operating in and out of Chennai Central took a hit with three trains cancelled, six partially cancelled and three trains diverted. Suburban train services operating between Beach and Tambaram were delayed with railway lines submerged under water.

At least 26 flights were also delayed and one scheduled flight between Chennai and Thoothukudi cancelled following rains.

The Met Department forecasts very heavy rain over the next 24 hours in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Vellore districts. Met officials say a low pressure trough has formed in the south east Bay of Bengal and this could intensify into a depression.