Chennai: Heavy rains on Tuesday pounded several parts of Tamil Nadu, inundating most areas of Chennai, severely disrupting flights, train and bus services and forcing the postponement of half-yearly school exams even as the state braced for more showers in next four days.

As the death toll in rain-related incidents touched 188, Chief Minister Jayalalitha reviewed the situation and deputed ministers to inspect the affected regions.

Half-yearly exams in schools, which were to have begun on December 7, were postponed. Schools were closed on Tuesday and will remain shut Wednesday as well.

Flight operations also took a hit due to rains. Airport officials said one flight, which had left Colombo this morning, returned.

Twelve trains leaving Chennai Egmore were cancelled due to water overflowing on railway tracks between Villupuram — Tambaram section. Also, eleven trains were diverted.

Motorists had a tough time as not only arterial roads like Anna Salai and, GST Road were inundated but also many interior roads. Also, many roads were damaged, with several of them caving in inconveniencing motorists.

Puducherry and its suburbs continued to be lashed by heavy rains since last night and it recorded 15.2cm rain in the last 24 hours ending 0830 hours on Tuesday.

The Met office has cautioned of more showers in the next four days across Tamil Nadu with some regions likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Jayalalitha said police, fire and rescue, National and State Disaster Forces and Coast Guard have been kept ready for need-based evacuations of people from flood-hit regions.

She reviewed the situation in districts including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore and Kanchipuram.

She also ordered the postponement of half-yearly examinations for schoolchildren to next month. The exams had been slated to start on December 7.

As a result of the rains, the Poondi, Cholavaram, Puzhal and Chembarambakkam reservoirs that feed Chennai have touched 83.8 per cent of their capacity. Out of the 14,098 lakes under PWD in Tamil Nadu, 6,791 are full.

“I have ordered officials to take precautionary measures before releasing surplus waters from reservoirs and evacuate people living in low-lying areas,” she said.

She also ordered a solatium of Rs400,000 (Dh22,013) to each of families of the four people killed in rain-related incidents a few days ago in various parts of the state.

Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has sought immediate interim financial assistance of Rs1 billion from the Centre, to take up relief works.