Thousands evacuated as Cyclone Hudhud nears Indian coast
New Delhi (dpa) - Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from lowlying areas along India's south-eastern coast Saturday as a cyclone over the Bay of Bengal strengthened, officials said.
Cyclone Hudhud was tracked 330 kilometres south-east of Andhra Pradesh's port city of Vishakapatnam, where it was expected to cross midday Sunday, the Indian Meteorological Department said.
Classified as a "very severe cyclonic storm," Hudhud is expected to hit coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh with winds of up to 140 kilometres per hour.
"We have evacuated about 100,000 people from five coastal districts to relief camps," AR Sukumar, commissioner of the state's disaster management division said over the phone.
"We will move a total of 200,000 to 300,000 people depending on an assessment of how the worsening weather would affect these areas. It is a dynamic situation," he added.
