Chennai, Mar 23 : Incessant rain continues to lash several parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pudhucherry.

Thutukudi, Tiruneveli, Nagapatinam, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore have been badly hit districts where rains have damaged standing crops of over 50,000 acres claiming 15 lives.

In Cuddalore district, the heavy rains have reportedly cost the cashew nut farmers a loss of over 1000 million rupees.

Reservoirs and water bodies in the southern districts are on the verge of overflowing.

The Vaigai dam, in Theni district reached its optimum level during the summer season for the first time in 25 years. The Public Works Department has issued second flood warning to five districts near the banks of River as the storage level in Vagai dam touched 68.5 feet.

This was the first incident in ten years when the place received 7 cms of rain during the month of March.

Chief Minister Karunanidhi has sanctioned 1000 million for immediate relief works in the State.

The ongoing Assembly session has been suspended for two days to enable Ministers and MLAs to supervise relief works.

The first test match between South Africa and India would begin on Wednesday but according to the met office, rains may continue at least for the next 24 hours.

In Kerala, deaths toll has reached 11. The State Government has decided to fully compensate farmers who face a total loss of crops to help them resume sowing.

A high level meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram fixed the total paddy crop loss at 820 million rupees.

Pudhucherry has got a respite after days of rain. Even though regional Metrological Centre Chennai predicted heavy rainfall, the sky remained cloudy. There was no rainfall allowing some portion of the stagnated water in several colonies to dry. (ANI)