The western regions of Gujarat and Diu in India are awaiting gusts of strong winds, lightning, tidal waves and rains as cyclone Tauktae, originating in the Arabian Sea, is set to make landfall in the area on Monday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert to these regions as the cyclone has intensified into a severe one, and will only get stronger in the coming days before it subsides.
An estimated population of over 150,000 people are being shifted from low-lying coastal areas in Gujarat, while 54 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in the state to monitor the situation and help people.
“It (cyclone Tauktae) is very likely to move north-north-westwards and reach Gujarat's coast in the evening hours of 17th and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during the night (2000 – 2300 hrs IST) of 17 May as a ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’ with a maximum sustained wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph,” IMD’s National Weather Forecasting Centre said in an official statement.
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm #Tauktae over eastcentral Arabian Sea moving with a speed of about 20 kmph intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm and is centred over eastcentral Arabian Sea about 160 km west-southwest of Mumbai &290 km south-southeast of Veraval (Gujarat) pic.twitter.com/ZG4ritnJOS
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 17, 2021
Gujarat has already been under lockdown to contain the spread of Coronavirus, and the state authorities have further strictly instructed people to stay inside their homes to be safe from the cyclone effects.
Meanwhile, Mumbai city in Maharashtra state, down the coast from Gujarat, has also begun to experience the effects of the cyclone, with rains and strong winds sweeping the region. Other Maharashtrian regions like Pune and Nashik are also expected to witness the cyclone's effects.
Operations at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will also be closed for three hours -- that could be further reviewed depending on the cyclone's condition.
Drought flood cyclone earthquake etc are the ways that nature takes revenge from humans. Nature has a myriad of weapons to combat human arrogance!#Thunderstorms #CycloneTauktae#Tauktae #storm #rains #Cyclone #ClimateCrisis #CycloneAlert#TauktaeCyclone #Alert #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/Pcf8GdZmVI
— ɴɪꜱᴀʀ ᴀʜᴇᴍᴀᴅ (sᴛᴀʏ sᴀғᴇ & sᴛᴀʏ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ) (@nisar_ahemad45) May 16, 2021
#Orangemessage: Cyclone warning for Gujarat & Diu coasts #CycloneTauktae Rains started pouring in #Mumbai streets, coast vibrating with gustywinds.#MumbaiRains #TauktaeCyclone #CycloneUpdate #CycloneTauktaeupdate #mumbairain @Indiametdept @ompsyram @moesgoi pic.twitter.com/u876cwpffv
— Debadas Pradhan (@pradhandebadas) May 17, 2021
#CycloneTauktae currently passing 150 km west of Mumbai. Mumbai & surrounding areas will get heavy to moderate rains with gusty winds next 4 to 6 hours. After 2 pm impact will start gradually reducing over Mumbai as Cyclone moves towards South Gujarat landfall. #MumbaiRains pic.twitter.com/InQau3eL59
— Mumbai Weather (@IndiaWeatherMan) May 17, 2021
#CycloneTauktae
— Sajid Ali ساجد علی (@sajidaliishan) May 15, 2021
Cyclone storm hit today Karnataka ⛈️😨 pic.twitter.com/PfEvkiLm5Z
Several trees and electricity poles have been uprooted by the cyclone, which has caused extensive property damage. The water level at many of the dams along the length of the river Tauktae has risen after heavy rains in the catchment areas.
India's Navy and Air Force are helping with relief operations as naval teams have assisted locals in Kerala and the Indian Air Force has air dropped National Disaster Response Force teams to affected areas.
