New Delhi, Rabi'I 13, 1439, Dec 1, 2017, SPA -- At least nine people have died as southern India was lashed by heavy rains and high-speed winds brought on by a tropical cyclone, officials and news reports said Friday. Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry states were the worst affected as trees and electric poles were uprooted by strong winds and buildings collapsed due to rain. At least 70 fishermen were missing since Thursday, Tamil Nadu disaster management chief Rajendra Ratnoo said. More than 1,000 people had to be evacuated to higher ground in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district where five people died in incidents ranging from trees falling on their homes to electrocution. Navy ships and aircraft, Indian Air Force choppers and the Coast Guard were involved in search operations at sea but the bad weather was hampering these efforts, NDTV news channel reported. --SPA 10:11 LOCAL TIME 07:11 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w550799