Major Cyclonic storm to hit South India by Friday

The Indian Meteorological department Thursday said the major cyclonic storm, 'Helen', would hit the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh by Friday. The met department warned that the Helen storm would bring torrential rains and high speed winds when it would hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh. "Gale winds speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph would prevail along and off south Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu coasts," it said. "The severe cyclonic storm would move west-northwestwards slowly for some time, then west southwestwards and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machillipatnam, close to Ongole around afternoon of November 22," it added. The met said Sea conditions would be very high along and off Andhra Pradesh coast, and rough to very rough in north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. A month ago, Super cyclonic storm, Phailin, hit the coastal areas Andhra Pradesh, leaving 53 people dead and 42,000 houses damaged due to flooding. It was India's strongest storm in 14 years. It left a trail of destruction along the country's east coast, but little loss of life was reported after close to a million people took refuge in shelters