Chennai, May 18 (IANS): Heavy rainfall will continue in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 24 hours, said the weather department on Wednesday.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a depression over southwest Bay of Bengal has moved to 90 km east of Chennai and 70 km of the coast.

It is expected to move north-northeastwards and intensify into a deep depression and further into a cyclonic storm over the next 48 hours.

Rainfall is also predicted over south coastal and interior Tamil Nadu durning the next 24 hours.

Similarly, heavy rainfall is predicted over south Andhra Pradesh coast during the next 48 hours.

According to the IMD, wind speed reaching 55-65 km per hour gusting to 75 km per hour would prevail along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 24 hours and south Andhra Pradesh coast during next 48 hours.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea as sea condition will be very rough during the next 48 hours.

Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu government has deputed senior officers to areas that may experience heavy rainfall to oversee precautionary measures.

In Chennai, sewage lines have started overflowing in many areas due to the intermittent rains putting the residents into difficulty.