1 Nov 2012

Fatal cyclone batters south-east India

11:01 pm on 1 November 2012

At least seven people have died in a cyclone that has hit the south-eastern coast of India with strong winds and torrential rain.

Rescue teams in Chennai state are searching for five missing crew members of an oil tanker that ran aground on Wednesday, the BBC reports.

Coastguard helicopters and boats are combing the sea for sailors from the Pratibha Cauvery.

One of the crew members drowned after a boat carrying him and others capsized near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu state.

Roads and agricultural land across the coast have been badly damaged and power lines have been brought down in several areas by Cyclone Nilam.

More than 100,000 people were evacuated ahead of the storm and shifted to higher ground, into schools and other temporary shelters.