Some 25,000 people were being evacuated from coastal areas in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh before a cyclone was due to make landfall later Friday. Cyclone Helen is predicted to bring winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour and heavy rains when it crosses the coast near the city of Machillipatnam Friday afternoon, dpa quoted India's Meteorological Department as saying. Storm surges of up to 1.5 metres were expected in low-lying areas in the region. "Twelve thousand villagers from coastal villages are already in relief camps and those remaining are being moved or already on their way to such shelters," state disaster management official VK Ekbote said.
