41 killed as heavy rains wreak havoc in India, Sri Lanka, officials say

Heavy rains across southern India and Sri Lanka have killed at least 41 people, authorities said on Thursday, with weather forecasters expecting the downpours to ease in the next few days as stricken communities pumped out the deluge.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast light to moderate rain in most affected areas, with occasional flooding of some roads and low-lying areas. 

Pradeep John, an amateur forecaster in Tamil Nadu said, "The worst is over and occasional rains will happen".

"Today rains will be on and off, with large breaks and nothing alarming," he added.

The rains have killed 25 people in the island nation of Sri Lanka, most of whom drowned, while landslides injured five. While, 16 people were killed in Tamil Nadu.

Many parts of the state capital Chennai, were waterlogged and government officials used pumps to drain some communities that had been stranded waist deep.

As per officials said, thousands of people in low lying areas were moved to safety

Moreover, many schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu remained closed while some train services were still suspended.