Thousands evacuated as storm batters India

"Five persons have died due to rains and cold winds so far," said T. K. Dewan, the chief secretary of the state.

"Relief and rescue operations have also been launched in the affected areas. Officers have been stationed at vulnerable places to monitor the situation."

In advance of the storm, the coastal areas of the state were put on cyclone alert and fishermen were warned not to venture out to sea.

More than 10,000 people were evacuated from the state's southern coastal areas and people were cautioned against crossing rivers and lakes, which are overflowing.

But the storm was weaker than expected when it hit the mainland, a weather official said, predicting it would dissipate over the next 48 hours.

Heavy rains in the past three days have severely affected the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Officials said 64 people have died due to rains and flooding in Tamil Nadu, where some 50,000 people were evacuated to higher ground, while another 26 lost their lives in Karnataka.

Weather officials say the rains have marked the arrival of the monsoon season in southern India.

"The annual monsoon rains have arrived earlier than usual over southern India. Now this wet weather will last for at least another two months. It is a huge challenge for the administration," a Tamil Nadu official said.

Unlike the rest of India, which experiences monsoon rains between June and September, the south gets monsoon rains in November and December.