Cyclone 'Mekunu' hits coastal Karnataka: Mangaluru worst hit; school, colleges shut

The cyclone 'Mekunu' on Tuesday hit coastal districts of Karnataka. Mangalore and Udupi were the worst-hit areas in the state so far. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions, markets were closed following the devastation. The region also witnessed heavy rainfall which uprooted many trees and caused floods. The Indian Metereological Department had earlier predicted a heavy rainfall.

Skymet weather has predicted that cyclone might make an onset in Kerala in a day or two.

Earlier, the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a warning regarding cyclone 'Mekunu' for Maharashtra-Goa coast. It had said that the Mekunu is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours and into a severe one in subsequent 24 hours.

Cyclone Mekunu neared the Arabian Peninsula on Friday as after causing damage in Oman.

At least 40 people were reported missing on Socotra while some were feared dead as flash floods washed away thousands of animals and cut power lines on the isle in the Arabian Sea.

However, Mekunu started to weaken to a tropical storm in Oman and authorities began clearing operations on Saturday after the heavy rain but warned residents to stay in their homes, with run-off from river valleys flooding most main roads in Dhofar.

Earlier in the day, the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday said that Southwest Monsoon has hit most parts of Kerala and some parts of Tamil Nadu, which is 3 days ahead of its normal date.