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India Cyclone Death Toll Rises to 42


A boy struggles to hold onto his umbrella during strong winds on Marina beach in the southern Indian city of Chennai, December 29, 2011.
A boy struggles to hold onto his umbrella during strong winds on Marina beach in the southern Indian city of Chennai, December 29, 2011.

Indian authorities say the devastating cyclone that struck the country's southeastern coast Friday killed at least 42 people and damaged hundreds of homes.

Cyclone Thane lashed the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu state and the territory of Pondicherry with winds up to 135 kilometers per hour, before gradually weakening.

Officials say at least 26 of the deaths were in the Cuddalore district. They say most of the deaths were caused by wall collapses and electrocution.

Authorities said Saturday that engineers are working to restore telephone and power lines that were cut off in some regions during the cyclone.

Coastal villages were evacuated to shelters before Thane hit land.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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