Southern India cyclone fizzles out

The cyclone has left thousands homeless in Sri Lanka

A cyclone that threatened havoc over southern India has dissipated after crossing the coast, calming fears of widespread destruction.

The storm crossed into the southern state of Tamil Nadu early on Thursday morning, bringing torrential rains.

But it has since weakened and the metereological department says it is now heading towards the Arabian Sea in the west.

Cyclone 04B had already hit Sri Lanka leaving thousands of people homeless, and at least eight people dead.

Relief teams have been distributing food and assisitance to families housed in temporary shelters in northern Sri Lanka.

But their efforts are said to have been hampered because much of the affected area lies under the control of Tamil separatist rebels.

'No casualties'

In southern India, an official said that fishermen had returned safely to port and there was little to worry about

"It has caused very little destruction here, with just a few palm thatched huts damaged and no casualties being reported from anywhere," Malik Ferozekhan, the District Collector in the port of Tuticorin told Reuters new agency.

"It is expected to continue to move in a westerly direction and bring heavy rainfall to parts of southern Tamil Nadu and Kerala states as it moves towards the Arabian Sea and gradually weakens," Mr Ferozekhan said.

The cyclone was causing winds of up to150 kph (90 mph) when it hit Tuticorin, 575 km (360 miles) south of Madras.

But later it reduced to winds of 40 kph, with mild drizzles.

Cyclones are a common phenomenon along the eastern coast of India at this time of year.

Last month, at least five people were killed in Tamil Nadu after a tropical cyclone swept across the state.

A cyclone in the state of Orissa last year killed nearly 8,500 people and left approximately 13 million others homeless.