Chennai, Wednesday 26 November 2008: Heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds swept parts of Tamil Nadu forcing authorities to close schools and colleges in Chennai and three other districts on Wednesday.

Traffic in this metropolis came to a standstill with many of the roads under knee-deep water following the rains under the influence of a trough of low pressure that has intensified into a cyclonic depression over the Bay of Bengal.

Collectors of Chennai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur have declared holiday for schools and colleges in their districts, official sources here said.

Met officials said here that during the period isolated heavy rain was likely to occur over coastal Tamil Nadu while isolated rain is likely over interior parts of the state.

Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea as strong onshore winds with maximum speed reaching 45-55 km is likely to sweep along Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast during the next 24 hours.

A report from Rameswaram said wind with a speed of 67 km per hour lashed the island and the cyclone is expected to cross Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Pamban on Wednesday night.