India: Heavy rains lash coast

Heavy rains lashed the southern Indian coast and nine people were reported dead as a cyclonic storm touched the coastline today.

Authorities have evacuated 5,000 people from low-lying villages. The storm, packing winds up to 55mph, was triggered by a depression in the Bay of Bengal and crossed into the southern districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh state today, prompting its government to declare high alert in coastal areas.