Cudalore/Nagapatnam: The Northeast monsoon that lashed the State for the past three days has already created a havoc in the coastal regions of delta belt. In Cuddalore three persons have lost their lives, while in Nagapattinam district 60,000 hectares of arable land is under water.

Rainfall in Nagapattinam district was the highest in Tamil Nadu. This affected the samba crop in Mayiladuthurai, Sirkazhi, Kizhvelur, Tharangambadi and Vedaranyam taluks. Most arable land was inundated.

In Cuddalore, as rain continued to lash the region for the second consecutive day, roads at several places were flooded. Efforts by the district administration to drain storm water were of no avail.

In a tragic incident, Latha (36), a resident of Periyacolony in Pillalithotti village, died as the wall of a house collapsed and fell on her. She was walking along the wall to fetch drinking water.

In another incident, Rajeshwari (35) died after she accidently came in contact with a live electric wire while drying clothes on the terrace. Ramasamy (45) from Kolathankurichi village died after falling from a transformer while on duty. The average rainfall in the district was 78.70 mm.