Cyclone weakens off India

Survivors of the 1999 cyclone in Orissa

A severe storm in the Bay of Bengal which was threatening the Indian coasts of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh has started to weaken.

Meteorological officials say the storm has been downgraded from "severe cyclonic storm" to "cyclonic storm".

It was earlier feared it may hit the densely-populated eastern coast of India at about 1800 GMT on Wednesday.

Indian authorities had warned fishermen not to go to sea.

The director of the meteorological department in Hyderabad, CVV Bhadram told the BBC the storm was less severe and had hardly moved for most of Wednesday evening.

Earlier devastation

He said they would monitor whether it would disperse over the sea on Thursday morning.

Four years ago, a powerful cyclone devastated the coastal areas of Orissa, killing nearly 10,000 people and leaving millions homeless.

The cyclone - with winds of more than 130 km/h (80 miles), heavy rain and huge waves had been building up about 500 kilometres south-east of the coastal city of Vishakapatnam.

Forecasters warned of tidal waves, and gales reaching up to 75 km/h and heavy rainfall.

The relief commissioner for the Andhra Pradesh government, DC Roshaiah, said a control room, which has been set-up in the state capital, Hyderabad, would stay in touch with the 10 coastal districts which were at risk.