A severe cyclone packing winds of up to 140 kilometres (85 miles) an hour tore into India's southeastern coast on Friday, killing at least 16 people, a senior official said.

Cyclone Thane lashed the

Chennai city has been experiencing heavy showers since Wednesday night as 'very severe' cyclonic storm lay centered about 250 km from the Tamil Nadu capital.

With Cyclone Thane set to cross Puducherry coast on Friday morning, weathermen predict heavy rain in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the next two days.

However, the storm surge is expected to be aroun

Fear gripped coastal Andhra as high tidal waves lashed the coast under the impact of cyclonic storm 'Thane' which is set to cross the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and Nellore in Andhra Prades

The cyclonic storm 'Thane' over south-west and south-east Bay of Bengal is likely to move west-north-westwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm tomorrow.

The storm is likely to cross north