Many feared killed in India cyclone

Chennai : Several people were feared killed as the cyclone Jal hit parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh even as there were reports of the cyclone losing its strength.

At least 30 people are feared dead and scores injured as the cyclone battered the southern coastlines of India, reports said on Sunday.

The meteorological department had warned of the cyclone hitting the coastline from the Bay of Bengal with winds of up to of 100 km per hour bringing in heavy rainfall for the next 48 hours.

Around 70,000 people were earlier evacuated from the eastern coastal villages of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Andhra Pradesh revenue minister Dharmana Prasad Rao said that Jal, moving north-west, was expected to hit land between Chennai andNellore on Sunday evening and was losing strength as it drew closer.