Nov 28, Kathmandu- Four children have died and four others have been rescued after being swept away by flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall caused by a powerful cyclone heading towards India, Sri Lankan rescue workers said on Thursday.

Rescue teams say more than 250,000 people have been displaced by floods in Sri Lanka. Indian weather officials have said there is a "potential" chance that a storm in the southwest Bay of Bengal could intensify into a cyclonic storm.

The region is at risk of a severe cyclonic storm, similar to the risk of a hurricane in the North Atlantic or a cyclone in the Northwest Pacific.

After crossing the coast of Sri Lanka, the storm is expected to move north towards the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The India Meteorological Department has predicted that it will move towards the southern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts on Saturday with winds of up to 70 kmph.

Sri Lanka's disaster management center said displaced people were seeking temporary shelter in public buildings after their homes were submerged.

The government said it had launched a relief operation with the help of the military. The disaster management center said it was still searching for those missing.

The South Asian region continues to face the risk of deadly floods and landslides related to rains. Experts say such problems are increasing due to climate change.