Cyclone Tauktae: Heavy Rains Lash Mumbai and Gujarat As Storm Intensifies; Mumbai Shuts Down Airport

India: Gujarat and Mumbai brace against the impact of the storm hurtling towards the state expected to cross the coast on Monday evening, as Cyclone Tauktae intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm. Around 25000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas between Porbandar and Mahua of Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district.

On Sunday, gale-force winds, heavy rainfall, and high tidal waves swept the coastal bed of Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa devastating human occupancies, uprooting electric poles and trees and forcing evacuation in low lying areas. 

IMD has cautioned Mumbai labelling it under orange alert as it will witness heavy rains in isolated locations. Officials have warned of damage to power and communication lines. Flooding of roads and disruption to railway lines and signalling systems is expected. Damage is expected to salt pans and standing crops.  The airport has been closed from 11 am to 2 pm. The city’s Bandra-Worli sea link has been closed. Five temporary shelters have been set up in each of the city’s 24 wards. Three NDRF teams are on alert.  Moderate to intense spells of rain in the city as well as Thane, Raigad, Palghar and Ratnagiri districts, are likely in the next few hours. 

Sources report, nearly 7,000 fishing boats from both states have safely reported to the harbours. Additionally, over 300 merchant ships and Oil Rig Operators have been warned to re-route.

CM of both the states asserts no disruption in treatment of COVID-19 patients, have directed all essential facilities to gear up and assure continuous assistance. Medical authorities, Relief services, Electric Department and Logistics have been directed to moderate their operations accordingly.