The cyclone was crossing the coast South of Chennai as observed at 4 pm, a bulletin issued by the Area Cyclone Warning Centre here said. The system would take two hours to cross the coast and then move further northwards before weakening gradually, it said.u00a0

About 4,000 people residing close to the coast in Mahabalipuram, a famous tourist spot known for its shore temples and sculptures, have been evacuated to safer places, officials said.