At least 70 people were killed and thousands rendered homeless in incessant rains in the state as cyclone Nisha that has crossed the Tamil Nadu coast near Karaikal left behind a trail of destruction.

The cyclone, which crossed the Tamil Nadu coast near Karaikal on Thursday, wreaked havoc there and in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Tiruvarur district, the Met office said.

Several fishing boats anchored near the shore in these areas broke free of its moorings and are reported missing. Standing paddy crops in these areas were submerged.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi expressed hope that the Centre would sanction adequate funds for flood relief works in the state.

"We have provided details about the damage caused by the cyclone and heavy rains lashing the state to the Centre," he told reporters after going round the flood-hit areas in Chennai Friday.

Karunanidhi said he has asked the District Collectors to gather details of the damage. The relief works for the affected people would be taken up immediately, he said.

Earlier, he went around Kotturpuram, Saidapet, Gandhi Mandapam, Kilpauk and Perambur which were the worst hit in the rains in the city.

The city was under a sheet of water with suburban lakes and tanks like Chembarambakkam, Poondi and Porur overflowing.

Most of the roads in the city were flooded and traffic was disrupted. People living on the banks of Adyar, Cooum rivers and in the low lying areas have been housed in schools and being provided food.