Heavy rains lashed coastal Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts of Tamil Nadu for the second day Wednesday, even as the state government stepped up relief operations.

Normal life was thrown out of gear in the two districts and several other parts of the state.

In Chennai city and suburbs, intermittent showers hampered relief operations, especially in the northern, southern and western suburbs, where water inundated habitations in low lying areas, making life miserable for hundreds and thousands of people.

• Rains batter TN overnight, more expected

There was no respite for those who had built houses by encroaching areas below tanks and lakes. Several areas in the western suburbs of Avadi and Ambattur were under waist-deep water, as in other suburbs.

Nagapattinam, which had received the highest rainfall of 18 cm in the state Tuesday, recieved 11 cm rainfall till 0830 hrs Wednesday morning, again the highest in the state. Relief operations were hit.

According to the weather office in Chennai, Mayiladuthurai in Thanjavur district received 9 cm rainfall, followed by 8 cm in Chidambaram and 7 cm in Panruti. The city received 1 cm during the last 24 hours, the weather office said.

Four ministers were assisting the district administrations and overseeing relief in Nagapattinam and Cuddalore, where thousands of people had been evacuated and accomodated in relief centres.

Edcuational insitutions remained closed in southern districts.

The authorities distributed food packets to the affected people.

The rains also triggered a sharp rise in prices of vegetables with carrot, onion, tomato and beans selling at over Rs 20 a kg.

Business at the wholesale vegetable and fruit market at Koyambedu was alo hit.