Streets in India’s southern city of Chennai were filled with chest-deep water and eight people died in intense flooding on Tuesday as Cyclone Michong was set to hit the south-eastern coast.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said the cyclone is expected to hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh state around Tuesday afternoon (0630 GMT) as a “severe cyclonic storm”, with winds of up to 100 kilometers (62 mph). Winds will blow from.
In Chennai, cars were seen floating in torrents, homes were flooded, and a crocodile was seen swimming through the city streets.
The IMD warned of “exceptionally heavy rainfall” in some areas.
“We are facing the worst storm in recent memory,” Tamil Nadu state Chief Minister MK Stalin said in a statement late Monday.
Police said on Tuesday that eight people have died in the state capital Chennai.