cyclonic storm

India's weather department has said a depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to turn into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday evening.

The cyclonic storm is expected to cross Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal coasts around midnight Sunday, the India Meteorological Department said in a statement.

Heavy rains and strong winds from a severe cyclonic storm have been battering India's southern coast with reports that several people have died.

A cyclonic storm, the Indian Ocean equivalent of a hurricane, pushed through India’s western coast late last week, and its rains are expected to arrive in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar within the next two days.

“The storm is expected to weaken first to a cyclonic storm and then to a depression by this evening,” it said.