Tens of thousands evacuated as cyclone menaces India and Pakistan

More than 40,000 people have been evacuated across India and Pakistan as cyclone Biparjoy approaches their coast with gales of up to 150 kilometres per hour predicted.

The cyclone is making its way across the Arabian Sea and is forecast to make landfall as a "very severe cyclonic storm". India's Meteorological Department said the storm would hit near the Indian port of Jakhau on Thursday evening with winds surging up to 150 kilometres per hour.

In Pakistan's southeastern Sindh province, at least 20,000 people had been evacuated from the storm's path. Authorities in Gujarat have warned as many as 1.6 million people are likely to be affected in their state, and heavy winds and rains ahead of its arrival have already killed three people.