Cyclone Phyan weakens while crossing India's western coast (Roundup)

New Delhi - Cyclone Phyan crossed India's western coast just north of India's financial capital of Mumbai Wednesday and weakened into a tropical storm bringing heavy rains and gusty winds in the region, news reports and officials said. Authorities in the western Maharashtra and Gujarat states withdrew a high alert expecting the storm to weaken late Wednesday night. No damage or loss of life was reported hours after the cyclone crossed the region in the afternoon, the IANS news agency reported. But the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy rainfall in Maharashtra, Gujarat as well as central Madhya Pradesh state over the next 24 hours. It said that gales with wind speeds between 65 to 85 kilometres per hour were likely along and off north Maharashtra and south Gujarat till midnight. The cyclone had crossed the coastal areas near Mumbai and was moving in a north by north-east direction, the IMD said in an update on its website. Authorities warned that the winds were strong enough to damage thatched huts and break tree branches, causing damage to power and communications lines in coastal areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The IMD had earlier put out a red alert for a severe cyclone following which the Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is capital, shut down schools and government offices and asked people to remain indoors. Amid heavy rains in the city, flights in and out of Mumbai were delayed and the final one-day cricket match between India and Australia scheduled there was also cancelled. The state administration had activated the emergency services in anticipation of the cyclone. 'All disaster control agencies like the district administration, police, civic and traffic authorities, fire services, Coast Guard, and the Indian Navy have been put on high alert to tackle any eventuality arising out of the weather condition,' top Maharashtra official Johny Joseph told reporters. Fishermen along the Indian coast were warned against venturing out into the Arabian sea, which was expected to be 'very rough.' But about 60 fishing boats remained missing at sea, with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard planes and ships searching for them.