Chennai, March 21 (IANS) Many parts of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry witnessed heavy rain Friday due to a low pressure trough over Cape Comorin, Met Office officials said here. The trough also caused low pressure over coastal areas of Karnataka and Kerala and is expected to intensify during the next 48 hours till Sunday, weather office said.

While Chennai city Friday recorded 11 mm rainfall, Sivakasi and Virudhunagar districts recorded 12.5 mm rainfall.

North Chennai, Ennore, Korattur, Ambattur, Villivakkam, Kolathur and south Chennai areas like Velachery, Madipakkam, Vijayanagar, Selaiyur are reported submerged, evoking memories of the 2005 and 2006 floods.

Life was disrupted in Tirunelveli, Nilgiris and Theni due rain for the last 48 hours.

Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanniyakumari district of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are expected to receive more rain in the next 24 hours.

All rivers and major watersheds in these districts are overflowing, reports from the districts said.

The two biggest dams in the southern districts are, however, not overflowing yet. Water in the Vaigai river dam in Madurai has touched 62.34 feet (maximum limit of 71 feet) with an inflow of 2,296 cusecs. Water in the Periyar river dam stood at 118.80 feet (maximum limit of 136 feet) with an inflow of 3,452 cusecs.

Thousands of acres of fields with standing crops of rice, chilli and vegetables ready for harvest in April are under water, reports said.

The government has alerted all the district collectors to be ready for relief work, wherever needed.