Stranded whales die on the shore at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu

At least 45 whales have died in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu after more than 100 of the animals were stranded on the shore at Tuticorin.

The whales were spotted along a stretch of beach on Monday evening.

Locals together with teachers and students of a local college tried to float the whales back out to sea, but they kept returning to the shore