Cyclone Laila death toll rises to 23 in India

Hyderabad: Tropical cyclone Laila hit India's east coast, lashing the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh with heavy rain and claiming at least 23 lives.

The cyclone slammed into southeastern India, toppling power lines and plunging a large swath of coastal Andhra Pradesh state into darkness after heavy rains and earlier strong winds claimed at least 23 lives.

State revenue minister Dharmana Prasad Rao said four people died when torrential downpours driven by the cyclone led to a landslide near the city of Vijaywada late Thursday night.

The other four deaths were reported from the nearby Nellore, Guntur, and Prakasham districts of the state.

State welfare agencies evacuated more than 50,000 people from low-lying villages as the region braced for its worst storm in 14 years.

The cyclone, packing strong winds of 60 miles (100 kilometres) per hour, hit the coastal town of Bapatla.