Tuesday, November 8 2005 19:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Heavy rains continued to lash various parts of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Pondicherry, disrupting normal life in some districts as more widespread rains are forecast over the next two days with a fresh low-pressure area forming over southwest Bay of Bengal.

The worst hit in the incessant rains since last four days are Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal, an enclave of Pondicherry.

Nagapattinam registered 28 cms of rains while Cuddalore 14 cms in the 24 hour period ending 8 am today. There has been no let up in the rainfall in Cuddalore District and Karaikal since last night, officials said.

While Chennai was spared of heavy spells though the low-lying areas continued to be waterlogged after the weekend rains, causing hardship to residents, most of the lakes in the suburbs were overflowing while in some breaches had occurred.

Production in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation in Cuddalore district was affected as water had entered three of the mines, an NLC official said.

With 10 more persons losing their lives in the past one day, the total number of deaths in rain-related incidents from October 1 has risen to 139, official sources said.

The Met office said the earlier low-pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lankan coast, persisting for the last four days, had now weakened into a trough of low pressure extending between Gulf of Mannar and North Tamil Nadu. But, another low-pressure area had formed again over southwest Bay of Bengal.