Cyclone Nisarga intensifies as it approaches Mumbai

A cyclone moving across the Arabian Sea to the Indian coastal city of Mumbai has intensified, forecasters say.

Cyclone Nisarga, which is approaching from the south-west, would be the first serious cyclone to make landfall in the city since 1891.

Tens of thousands of people have already been moved to higher ground.

With 20 million people, Mumbai is India's most populous city and its financial capital - and has already been badly hit by the virus outbreak.

• Cyclone set to hit Covid-ravaged Mumbai
• Mumbai bracing for the 'first cyclone in years'

At 05:30 local time (00:00 GMT), the Indian Meteorological Department said the cyclone was 215km (134 miles) from Mumbai - and had intensified into a "severe cyclonic storm".

They later said the cyclone had speeded up, and was moving at around 13 kilometres an hour. There has already been heavy rain in Mumbai since Tuesday.