New Delhi/IBNS, Nov. 30 -- Heavy rains lashed parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Sunday as Cyclone Ditwah continued to move along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline, triggering widespread disruptions, officials said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts as the cyclonic storm intensified over the southwest Bay of Bengal.

According to the IMD, Ditwah "moved nearly northwards at a speed of 7 kmph over the past six hours" and remained positioned over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts as of 5:30 am.

Normal life in coastal towns including Rameswaram and Nagapattinam has been severely affected, with...