Chennai, Nov 27 : Heavy rains triggered off by the inching cyclone ''Nisha'' towards the southern coast of India continued to lash Chennai and other places in Tamil Nadu disrupting life on Thursday.

The streets in Chennai were literally submerged and traffic moved at a snail''s pace on the waterlogged streets.

People of the area complained that the rainwater had started entering their houses and the government was not taking any action.

Heavy rains, under the influence of the depression over the Bay of
Bengal, lashed different parts of Tamil Nadu. In the event, normal life
has been disrupted and already twenty eight people have lost there
lives.

According to the police most of the deaths have been either due to electrocution or wall collapses.

The Meteorological office has predicted that the depression, centred
about 50 km off the Vedaranyam coast, is likely cross the coast on
Wednesday evening between Vedanrayam and Pamban.

Thanjavur/Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Nov 26 : Heavy and continuous downpour for three days in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu has adversely hit the harvest of paddy crops causing a huge loss to farmers.

Large areas of paddy fields submerged under water due to incessant rain have left the farmers complaining.

“Last few days in Thanjavur district, there has been continuous rainfall. Due to heavy rains, paddy crops are submerged in water. Around 3000 hectares of land has been damaged due to water logging in Kalimedu, Sankasamam, Kadampakudi and Thenakudi.

Coimbatore, Nov 26 : The capacity utilization of the textile industry in Tamil Nadu, hit by the ongoing slump in the demand in international markets and the acute power shortage, has dropped by 72 percent.

With an investment of almost 50 billion rupees, the textile industry in the state is in a dismal state.

The Marxist Communist Party of India (CPM) has decided to form an alliance with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu for the next general election.

"In all likelihood, we will have a tie-up with AIADMK," Said a party leader.

The decision is likely to be announced during the party's two-day politburo meeting. The meeting begins on November 29.

CPI has already decided to go with AIADMK.

Earlier both the left parties CPI and CPM have decided to have TDP as alliance partner in Andhra Pradesh.

Chennai, Nov 25 : Top leaders from Tamil Nadu will meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on December 04 to discuss the Sri Lankan issue.

The decision was taken at an all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai today.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party boycotted the meeting.

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have been reiterating their demand for ceasefire between the Sri Lankan forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).