Heavy rains battered the coastal areas of north Tamil Nadu on Wednesday as cyclone Laila further intensified and moved to lay centred in the Bay of Bengal around 190 km east-northeast of Chennai and is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast tomorrow.

The cyclonic storm over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal moved slightly northwards and lay centred at about 190 km east-northeast of Chennai at 5.30 am, bringing heavy rains in several places, including the city, since last night, Met department officials here said today. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.