HYDERABAD - The Indian army and navy were put on standby on Thursday as a tropical storm in the Bay of Bengal approached the southeastern coast, the latest weather threat to a region already reeling from heavy rains and flooding.
The storm was likely to hit land early on Saturday, weather officials said on Thursday, and authorities are stocking food and kerosene in coastal areas and warning fishermen not to go to sea.
"We are fully geared and evacuation of people living in low-lying areas will begin as soon as the storm hits land," Andhra Pradesh state official T.N. Dewan said.
Scores of people have died in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu over the past few weeks due to heavy rains and flooding, including 79 bus passengers caught in flash floods.
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