Fifty thousand evacuated as cyclone gains strength

India moved 50,000 people to relief camps yesterday as it began evacuations a day before Cyclone Montha, intensifying over the Bay of Bengal, is set to bring strong winds and heavy rains to its east coast, officials said.

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Authorities cancelled holidays for emergency staff and ordered schools and colleges to close in coastal areas of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and the eastern state of Odisha forecast to be hit by the harsh weather.

The cyclone is likely to turn into a severe storm by today, before crossing the coast of Andhra Pradesh later in the day, the India Meteorological Department said.