Chennai: Rain fury continued in the city and other coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, with the metropolis gauging 93 per cent more showers than normal for the October one to November 4 period.
The MeT department said low pressure area and upper cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal are likely to bring more rains.
Light to moderate rains were recorded in some areas in the state.
Eight persons have died so far since the onset of the northeast monsoon in the state on October 27.
For the October 1 to November 4 period, 19cm of rainfall was recorded in Tamil Nadu against the normal of 21cm, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Center, S Balachandran said.
Chennai gauged 62cm of precipitation against the normal of 32cm for the period, he said.
Rains are likely to subside in two-three days in coastal areas.
In the past 24 hours, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry witnessed widespread rains in coastal regions and some places in interior districts, he added.
Talaignayiru and Thirutharapoondi in Nagapattinam district recorded 27cm and 24cm of rainfall respectively, he said.
Chennai received 6 cm of rains in Meenambakkam and 7cm in Nungambakkam, Nagapattinam 9cm and Ponneri 10cm, according to MeT department data.
Commuters had a harrowing time with rains affecting bus and train services. Traffic moved at a snail's pace in some areas.
Schools and colleges, closed since October 31, were shut today as well, while several universities postponed their exams.
The State-level National Talent Search Exam scheduled for today has been deferred to November 18.
Civic authorities, including Corporation officials, district collectors (Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur) were coordinating relief work.
Power supply was suspended in inundated areas like parts of MKB Nagar in North Chennai, pockets of Madipakkam in South Chennai and Karapakkam off Porur in Western Chennai to ensure safety.
Netizens posted updates on traffic diversion, inundation on social media sites to help road users. Volunteers gave away food packets and water in affected areas in Nanmangalam and Pallikaranai here.
Chief minister K Palaniswami had visited many waterlogged parts of the city and the suburbs, insisting that his government was working on a "war-footing". His deputy O Panneerslevam and senior officials had accompanied him.
Meanwhile, a Met department bulletin said the low pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining coastal regions of Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu continue to persist.
The Met department said rain or thundershowers were likely over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at a few places over interior Tamil Nadu.
Heavy rain is very likely at some places in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, it said.
A release from the Railways said water-logging in the Chennai division led to failure of "track circuit-based signaling", affecting punctuality between Kodambakkam and St Thomas Mount stations in the southern sector at 9pm Friday. It was fixed around 9.50pm.
The signaling system was also hit on the northern Tondiarpet and Korukkupet route between 9.35pm on Friday and 5.45am Saturday, the release said.
Saturday morning, a rail fracture was detected between St Thomas Mount and Pallavaram stations and it was set right soon after, officials said.
Rain fury: Over 10,000 putting up in 114 relief camps
More than 10,000 people in rain- battered Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Nagapattinam districts have taken shelter in over 100 relief camps.
As many as 10,640 residents in low-lying areas have taken shelter in 114 relief centers in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Nagapattinam, the statement said.
The incessant downpour has brought the districts to their knees.
Special rescue and relief teams have been formed and dams and reservoirs are being monitored to prevent anti-social elements from creating problems, the statement said.
The state civil supplies corporation has been asked to stock essential commodities in vulnerable areas.
In Chennai, adequate number of boats are available for use as per requirements, the release said.
The government has appealed to people not to believe in rumors of any lake or reservoir breach as it was closely monitoring storage levels.