Cyclone Thane Weakens but at Least 12 Killed

Cyclone Thane slammed into the southern Indian coast on Friday, making landfall in the Tamil Nadu state.

The storm moved westward across the country, being downgraded from very severe to severe to deep depression as it went, according to CNN. Still, winds of close to 90 miles per hour were recorded in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, where at least 12 people were killed, mainly from electrocution and wall collapses.

The power has been cut off to the area to prevent further deaths from electrocution.

Cuddalore district administrator Amuthavalli told CNN that rescue crews were not being dispatched because the death toll is not expected to rise.

However, if the teams were needed, it would be difficult for them to reach Cuddalore, where roads were severely damaged, the Times of India reported. Uprooted trees and telephone poles have fallen onto houses and roads, making vehicular travel in some places impossible.

Cuddalore is a coastal area home to many fisherman, who have been warned to stay off the water. The homes of some 5,000 fishermen have been damaged, according to IBN Live.

Additionally, large ships were asked to move out to sea for safety and the local port is on high alert. Train lines have been suspended.

Bangalore also experienced heavy rains on Friday and the Karnataka districts of Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Kolar and Chikaballapura are expected to have a wet weekend as well.

The worst storm ever to hit the area was the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone, which resulted in more than 14,000 deaths.