Chennai, May 26 -- Torrential rains pounded the Western Ghat region in Tamil Nadu crippling normal life since yesterday leading to shutting down of prominent tourist spots at Ooty--the Queen of Hill Stations--in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.

There has been increase in rainfall activity following the advent of Southwest Monsoon in Kerala eight days ahead of scheduled.

A 15-year-old boy from Kerala was killed on Sunday evening when a tree collapsed and fell on him due to heavy rains in the Nilgiris district, bordering Kerala.

The boy, identified as P. Adhidev of Kozhikode, had come to the Nilgiris district with his family on holiday, when the tragedy occurred at the Eighth Mile, a popular picnic spot for tourists.

The Nilgiris...