Thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal areas in two southern Indian states, with Cyclone Vardah, packing winds of up to 120km/h (75mph), making landfall near Chennai (Madras).
Schools and businesses were shut and Chennai airport services suspended as heavy rain and winds lashed the city.
Teams from the army and National Disaster Relief Force, along with two naval ships, are on standby.
Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have been warned not to go to sea.
Several trees and street lights in Chennai have been brought down by the strong winds and parts of the city have been flooded.
The cyclone comes about a year after Chennai experienced devastating floods which killed 70 people.
In December 2011, more than 30 people died and many homes were damaged after a cyclone struck near the town of Pondicherry.
And in May 2010 at least 23 people died as a powerful cyclone caused widespread havoc across Andhra Pradesh.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-38285564
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