At least one person has been killed and two injured in Maharashtra’s Raigad district due to heavy rain and gusty winds caused by Cyclone Tauktae. Mumbai too witnessed heavy rain, forcing the authorities to suspend airport and rail services, and shut Bandra-Worli sea link. The BMC informed that the Worli sea link has been closed till further updates. The airport operations have also been suspended for three hours till 4 pm. In its latest update, the IMD said that the very severe cyclonic storm Tauktae moved north-north-westwards with a speed of about 20 kmph during past 6 hours, and intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm. It is very likely to move north-north-westwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of Monday and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during the night (8–11 pm) as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. The cyclone is expected to reach Gujarat Coast between 12 pm to 3 pm and cross the Gujarat Coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) between 3 pm to 6 pm. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to occur in coastal areas of Gujarat on May 17 and May 18. “Extremely heavy rainfall is also expected at some places. At the time of landfall, winds speed is expected to be 155-165 kmph gusting to 145 kmph,” IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.
Damage expected by IMD in coastal parts of Gujarat
The IMD says heavy damage is expected over Diu, Amreli Junagarh, Gir Somnath Botad and Bhavnagar and coastal areas of Ahmedabad. The cyclone can cause total destruction of thatched houses/ extensive damage to kutcha houses. Some damage also expected to pucca houses. Potential threat from flying objects. “Bending/ uprooting of power and communication poles. Major damage to Kutcha and Pucca roads. Flooding of escape routes. Minor disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signaling systems. Widespread damage to salt pans & standing crops,. Blowing down of bushy trees. Small boats, country crafts may get detached from moorings,” the department says.
Cyclone Tauktae: Damage Expected over Diu, Amreli Junagarh, and other areas
The IMD has speculated that the cyclone Tauktae might cause destruction of thatched houses/ extensive damage to kutcha house, as well as, it might uproot power and telephone towers in these areas:
Diu, Amreli, Junagarh, Porbandar, Kutch, Jamnagar, Rajkot & Morbi, Valsad, Surat, Vadodara, Bharuch, Navsari, Anand, Kheda, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Gir Somnath Botad and Bhavnagar, Coastal areas of Ahmedabad.
Cyclone Tauktae to reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours
According to the IMD, cyclonic storm Tauktae is very likely to move north-north-westwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of Sunday. The storm will cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during the night (between 8 pm- 11 pm) on May 17.
High speed winds, heavy rainfall lash Mumbai; local train services hit
High speed winds and heavy rains lashed Mumbai and its neighbouring areas as cyclonic storm Tauktae headed towards Gujarat on Monday. Local trains services of the Central Railway were disrupted between suburban Ghatkopar and Vikhroli for about half-an-hour as a tree fell on an overhead wire while a train was heading towards Thane. Services on the harbour line, that provides rail connectivity to Navi Mumbai, were also affected after a vinyl banner fell on an overhead wire between Chunabhatti and Guru Tej Bahadur stations around 11.45 am.
Airport operations suspended till 4 pm
Mumbai Airport operations closure has been extended till 4PM.
One killed, two injured in Raigad
Maharashtra: Raigad District Collector has informed that one person has been killed and two injured due to Cyclone Taukate. So far, 8,383 people have been shifted to a safer place.
Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have rescued nine people from Tug Coromandal Surrender IX which ran aground at Mulkhi Rock in Karnataka Coast. Five people were rescued by ICG Ship Varaha and 4 were winched by IN702 of Indian Navy ex-Kochi.
Goa CM Pramod Sawant speaks to Amit Shah
Goa CM Pramod Sawant says that he spoke to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the impact and devastation caused by the Tauktae cyclone in the state of Goa. “The Home Minister inquired about the widespread damage caused by the cyclone in the state and assured full support of all Central agencies to the State for returning to normalcy. We will provide all necessary assistance to Goans impacted by the cyclone,” he said.
Gujarat Cabinet Minister takes stock of preparations
Gujarat Cabinet Minister Kunvarjibhai Bavaliya is visiting Amreli to take stock of the preparedness for Cyclone Tauktae. Gujarat is likely to face extremely severe cyclone.
Heavy rainfall likely in coastal parts of Gujarat
Heavy to very heavy rains are likely at coastal parts of Gujarat. The IMD said that heavy falls are likely in the districts of Saurashtra namely Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar ,Junagadh and in Diu; in the districts of Gujarat region namely Valsad, Navsari & in Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli.
Heavy rain, winds hit Mumbai’s Covid care centre
Heavy rain and winds partially hit Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex Covid care centre.
IAF preparation for storm continues
The Indian Air Force on Sunday had deployed 2 C-130J and 1 An-32 aircraft for transportation of 167 personnel and 16.5 tonnes of load of NDRF from Kolkata to Ahmedabad. Another C-130J and 2 An-32 aircraft carried 121 NDRF personnel and 11.6 tonnes of load from Vijayawada to Ahmedabad for the same purpose. Also, 2 C-130J aircraft transported 110 personnel and 15 tonnes of cargo for NDRF from Pune to Ahmedabad.
Nearly 600 cases of structural damages in Maharashtra
536 instances of structural damages (house collapse, roof collapse, pole uprooting) reported in Sindhudurg, 61 in Ratnagiri and 2 each in Raigad and Thane districts till last night due to cyclone Taukate.
Heavy rainfall likely in Raigad, Palghar, Mumbai, Thane
As per IMD, moderate to intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 90-100 kmph is likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Raigad, Palghar, Mumbai, Thane and Ratnagiri during the next 3 hours.
Bandra-Worli sea link closed
BMC has informed that the Bandra-Worli sea link in Mumbai will be closed to commute till further update. It has advised commuters to take alternate routes.
Mumbai Airport operations suspended from 11 AM to 2 PM
Due to cyclone Tauktae, Mumbai Airport operations have been suspended for three hours from 11 am to 2 pm. “Due to cyclone alert, Mumbai Airport operations need to be closed from 1100 hours to 1400 hours of May 17,” the MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Limited) said.
Cyclone Tauktae to reach Gujarat by evening
The cyclonic storm is likely to reach Gujarat coast in evening hours and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva during night as the storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.
Latest update from IMD
The extrememly severe cyclonic storm lay centered at the Eastcentral Arabian Sea near latitude 18.5 degrees North and longitude 71.5 degrees East about 160 kms West-Southwest of Mumbai, 350 kms South-Southeast of Veraval, 310 kms South-Southeast of Diu and 840 kms South-Southeast of Karachi.
Fishing boats out at sea safely returned to harbour: Coast Guard
The Indian Coast Guard has informed that 4526 fishing boats of Maharashtra and 2258 boats of Gujarat which were out at sea have safely returned to the harbour, reported ANI.
NDRF teams reaches Ahmedabad
Gujarat is expected to witness maximum impact of Cyclone Tauktae.
Karnataka: 9 tugboat crew members stranded at sea near Udupi
Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority yesterday informed that nine crew members of tugboat ‘Coromandel Supporter’ remained stranded at sea near Udupi district due to strong winds caused by Cyclone Tauktae. According to PTI, rescue operation using chopper halted after adverse climate condition. The District administration held meetings with the Indian Navy DG, coast guard, and Coastal Police for rescue operation of stranded.
Latest update from IMD
As per the latest Satellite observation at 5:30 am today, the vortex Tauktae has further intensified and now lay centered at 18.5N/71.6E with a ragged eye. Convective bands are tightly wrapped.
50 NDRF teams deployed in Gujarat
NDRF Director General S N Pradhan has informed that 50 teams has been deployed in Gujarat. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Pradhan said that by the evening or late night, 50 teams will reach Gujarat. “We are constantly working on evacuation and awareness generation. Gujarat is most likely to experience the maximum impact,” he added.
100 NDRF teams deployed in 5-6 states
NDRF DG SN Pradhan has informed that more than 100 teams have been deployed in 5-6 states. During a meeting with chief ministers of Gujarat and Maharashtra, he said, the home minister said that our aim should be zero casualties and we are focusing on that.
Nearly 150,000 people will be moved from low-lying areas
The Gujarat government has said that nearly 150,000 people will be moved from villages and low-lying areas near the coast and directions have been issued. The storm is expected to reach Gujarat by Monday evening.
People living on coastal areas evacuated
In view of Cyclone Tauktae, people living on coastal areas of Malia in Junagadh were evacuated yesterday. Inspecting arrangements, Collector Sourabh Pardhi said that over 1200 people were evacuated and all precautionary measures were being taken with food and shelter arrangements.
Latest update from IMD
As per the latest Satellite observation, the Vortex “Tauktae” lay centered at 18.3N/71.5E, with a ragged eye and at a distance of around 260 KM south-southeast of Diu. Convective bands are tightly wrapped. In Maharashtra, two sisters — 17 years old and 12 years old — lost their lives and their mother seriously injured after a tree uprooted and collapsed on their hut due to strong cyclonic winds in Anchalwadi area of Jalgaon, the NDRF said.