Hundreds of thousands evacuated as Cyclone Helen hits India

Hundreds of thousands were evacuated as a severe cyclone slammed into southeastern India Friday, packing strong winds and torrential rains and killing at least two people, according to officials.

"Cyclone Helen has made landfall," an official with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) told AFP, as rains lashed Andhra Pradesh, disrupting life and snapping communication lines.
Two people were killed by falling trees in the storm that comes a month after a cyclone left at least 18 people dead and a trail of destruction along coastal Andhra Pradesh and in the eastern state of Orissa.
Disaster authorities expect "high rainfall during the next 24 hours" in three coastal districts of cyclone-prone Andhra Pradesh, said the disaster management official.
The cyclone was expected to be downgraded into a "deep depression" later Friday, the official said.
State authorities have evacuated hundreds of thousands of people out of the storm's path and rushed emergency services into areas reeling from the high winds and heavy rains.
Hundreds of thousands were evacuated as a severe cyclone slammed into southeastern India Friday, packing strong winds and torrential rains and killing at least two people, according to officials.

"Cyclone Helen has made landfall," an official with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) told AFP, as rains lashed Andhra Pradesh, disrupting life and snapping communication lines.
Two people were killed by falling trees in the storm that comes a month after a cyclone left at least 18 people dead and a trail of destruction along coastal Andhra Pradesh and in the eastern state of Orissa.
Disaster authorities expect "high rainfall during the next 24 hours" in three coastal districts of cyclone-prone Andhra Pradesh, said the disaster management official.
The cyclone was expected to be downgraded into a "deep depression" later Friday, the official said.
State authorities have evacuated hundreds of thousands of people out of the storm's path and rushed emergency services into areas reeling from the high winds and heavy rains.

source: afp india/reuters/yahoo