The north-east monsoon, lashing most parts of Tamil Nadu, have caused widespread damage and claimed the lives of 21 people. The intermittent heavy rain in coastal and interior districts has thrown normal life out of gear. In the Cauvery delta region of Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur crops in several thousand hectares were submerged and roads stretching for several kilometres were damaged due to continuous rains. In Chennai, several low lying areas continue to be water logged. The corporation authorities have pressed into large motors to bail out stagnant water. They also distributed food packets and chlorine tablets to people living in low-lying areas.<br/><br/>Schools and colleges in several districts will remain closed today because of incessant rains. Schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Tiruchi, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Nilgris , Sivaganga, Ramnathapuram, Theni and Dindigul will remain closed The Met office forecasts hints at a decrease in rains following the northward movement of a considerably weakened low pressure area from its position over Comerine near Kanyakumari. However it has said that rain or thundershowers were likely to occur in many places across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 24 hours.