国产热热热精品,亚洲视频久久】日韩,三级婷婷在线久久,99人妻精品视频,精品九热人人肉肉在线,AV东京热一区二区,91po在线视频观看,久久激情宗合,青青草黄色手机视频

Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Thousands evacuated as cyclone hits India

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-26 07:19

KOLKATA, India -- A cyclone hit the eastern Indian state of West Bengal on Monday, flooding villages and forcing thousands of people from their homes, officials said.

People walk near an uprooted tree in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata May 25, 2009. [Agencies]

Authorities began evacuating thousands from two coastal southern districts and warned people living in state capital Kolkata to stay indoors, as cyclone Aila advanced towards the biggest city in the region, packing winds up to 100 kph (60 mph).

Related readings:  Nightmares haunt Myanmar cyclone survivors  Singapore donates boats for Myanmar cyclone-hit fishermen  Myanmar cyclone toll increases to 84,500  UN chief strives for cyclone relief for Myanmar  1m cyclone survivors without shelter in Bangladesh

It was about 130 km (80 miles) south of Sagar Island, the world's biggest riverine delta, and was expected to hit Kolkata by late afternoon, authorities said.

"The situation is very grave, countless families have been displaced, especially in the Sundarbans," said Kanti Ganguly, West Bengal state minister for the Sundarbans.

The region holds thousands of people as well as the world's biggest tiger reserve.

Heavy rains triggered by the cyclone raised river levels and burst mud embankments in at least three places in the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, flooding homes.

At least 500 families have been displaced in Sundarbans, and authorities said they were giving shelter to thousands of people inside schools and government buildings.