Chennai, Dec.15 (ANI): Inclement weather in Tamil Nadu resulted in torrential rains disrupting daily life of local people on Tuesday (December 15).

Meteorologists, however, attributed this to the cyclone 'Ward' that has weakened into a deep depression accompanying rainfall. They also said that the cyclone is likely to weaken further into a low-pressure area.

On Sunday, the depression was positioned at 9.0 degrees latitude and 83.0 degrees longitude, 400 kilometres south-east of Nagapattinam and 400 kilometres east of Pambam near Rameswaram.

Local residents in Nagapattinam said that it has been raining continuously and such a downpour has disrupted normal life.

"It has been raining continuously for the past one week in Nagapattinam. We are unable to even move out of our houses. Moreover sea is also very-very rough which prevents us from venturing into the sea," said Premkumar, a fisherman, Nagapattinam.

Meanwhile meteorologists forecast likely isolated heavy to very heavy rain over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry over the next 48 hours.

"The deep depression crossed near Trincomalee (in Sri Lanka) during the noon period and weakened into a depression and it lay centred to Sri Lanka yesterday night. Today morning, it further weakened into well marked low pressure area and because of this well marked low pressure area, it has rained at many places of coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at one or two places in interior districts," said S R Ramanan, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Meteorological Observatory, Chennai.

Ramanan further mentioned that heavy rain fall is also likely over south-coastal Tamil Nadu over this period and the sea is likely to be very rough. Consequently, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the high seas.

According to meteorologists, heavy downpour is likely at many places over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry over the next couple of days due to the depression. (ANI)