Cyclone Michaung has made landfall in southern India, after earlier torrential rains sent tall waves crashing into coastal towns, submerging roads and killing at least nine people, including a child.
The “severe cyclonic storm”, packing winds up to 100kmph (62mph), reached the shores of Andhra Pradesh state near the town of Bapatla, shortly after noon on Tuesday, the Indian Meteorological Department said.
Parts of the state are expected to be pelted with more than 200mm (8 inches) of rain over the next 24 hours, the weather office said earlier.
Prior to the landfall, deadly floodwaters surged down the streets of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Officials said eight people were killed in the state.
Rescue teams were deployed across the affected region and more were “on standby to mobilise as needed”, said federal Home Minister Amit Shah.
Credit: aljazeera.com
