Cyclone Michaung batters southern India, killing nine
Heavy rains and strong winds are causing chaos in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Michaung makes landfall.
Nine people, including a child, have died in the two states due to rain-related incidents. Authorities have evacuated thousands of people from low-lying areas in both states as residential areas are flooded and videos show cars floating in water.
Cyclone Michaung has made landfall between Nellore and Kavali in Andhra Pradesh, with wind speeds up to 110km/h (68mph). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the storm to weaken into a depression by Wednesday morning.
In Andhra Pradesh, around 9,500 people have been evacuated to relief camps. Meteorological officials have issued a red alert in some parts of the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and warned of serious damage to houses.
Several flights and trains have been cancelled in Andhra Pradesh, and crop damage has been reported. Chennai airport, one of the busiest in India, was closed on Monday as its runway was flooded. It resumed operations on Tuesday morning as the cyclone moved northwards and the intensity of the rains reduced.
Factories, including iPhone production facilities, were closed in and around the major electronics and manufacturing hub of Chennai. Water-logging and power outages have made transportation difficult for residents, with disruption in water supply also reported.
With reporting inputs from BBC Tamil and BBC Telugu, the impacts of Cyclone Michaung are of grave concern to the southern states of India. Officials have urged caution and warned of ongoing severe weather conditions as the cyclone dissipates after making landfall.