South India's Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on cyclone alert
Cyclone Vardah lashes south India coast with 120km/h winds
(about 3 hours later)
Authorities in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have been put on alert as weather forecasters warn that a cyclone will hit the two states on Monday.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal areas in two southern Indian states, with Cyclone Vardah, packing winds of up to 120km/h (75mph), making landfall near Chennai (Madras).
There have been heavy rains in parts of the two states, and the cyclone is likely to make landfall near the city of Chennai on Monday afternoon.
Schools and businesses were shut and Chennai airport services suspended as heavy rain and winds lashed the city.
Schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu are shut, and rescue teams are on standby.
Teams from the army and National Disaster Relief Force, along with two naval ships, are on standby.
Fishermen in both states have also been warned not to venture out to sea.
Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have been warned not to go to sea.
India's weather office says that Cyclone Vardah, emanating from the Bay of Bengal, is likely to make landfall "along and off" the city of Chennai with wind speeds of 100kmph (62 mph).
Several trees and street lights in Chennai have been brought down by the strong winds and parts of the city have been flooded.
Coastal areas of both the states are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall - Chennai has already been lashed by rains.
The cyclone comes about a year after Chennai experienced devastating floods which killed 70 people.
The cyclone comes a little over a year since Chennai experienced devastating floods which killed 70 people.
In December 2011, more than 30 people died and many homes were damaged after a cyclone struck near the town of Pondicherry.
India's navy has said it is ready to carry out relief operations and that "all operational ships have been readied and kept on standby".
And in May 2010 at least 23 people died as a powerful cyclone caused widespread havoc across Andhra Pradesh.
In December 2011, more than 30 people died and many homes were damaged after a cyclone near the town of Pondicherry.
And in May 2010 at least 23 people died as a powerful cyclone caused widespread havoc across the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
