Tamil Nadu rain: Red alert for 2 days in 20 districts, including Chennai 

A 'red alert' for heavy to very heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday- has been issued for 20 districts across Tamil Nadu, including Chennai.

Expecting a fresh deluge, the Tamil Nadu government has set up 434 'siren towers' to alert authorities to floods and other emergencies.

In view of the warning, the government has declared holiday for schools and colleges on November 10 and 11 in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengelpet, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai districts.

Tamil Nadu has been battered by heavy rains over the past few days, having received 46 per cent excess rain so far, as compared to the historical average.

At least five people have died in rain-related incidents, over 530 houses or huts have been damaged and more than 1,700 people are in relief camps.

This weekend Chennai received its heaviest rain since the 2015 floods, leading to widespread water-logging in the city and its suburbs.