Cyclone lashes Indian coast

November 29, 2000
Web posted at: 5:56 PM HKT (0956 GMT)

By Andrew Demaria
CNN Interactive Writer

CHENNAI, India (CNN) -- Heavy rain, gusty winds and rough seas are battering cities and towns in south east India as tropical cyclone B3 lashes the coast.

The cyclone is less than 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of the port city of Cuddalore which is 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Chennai.

The local cyclone warning center expects the storm to move west, crossing land near Cuddalore.

The director of the center, S.K. Subramanian has downgraded his earlier forecast of winds gusting up to 170 km (105 miles) per hour once the cyclone hits land to 100 km (62 miles) per hour.

CNN correspondent Satinder Bindra is in Chennai where the cyclone is already causing havoc.

"Several mud huts have been washed away and I see people furiously trying to build embankments, others just trying to gather their belongings and running away to perhaps dryer areas," he reported.

The local fishing population have heeded warnings not to venture out to see until the storm dissipates.

"Ten thousand [fishermen] in the area I am in have stopped fishing, they've dragged boats and nets out of sea and they tell me they haven't seen seas as rough as this in about 30 years," Bindra said.

Officials are describing the cyclone as a very severe cyclonic storm and expect the damage to include uprooted trees, and damage to power and telecommunications lines.

"They are also expecting very heavy rains for the next 24 to 48 hours, so they are on full alert here and trying to assist as many people as possible to dryer areas," Bindra reported.

For more ASIANOW news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about South Asia
South Asian media sites

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.