Cyclone Tauktae LIVE Updates: “Extremely Severe” Cyclone Tauktae To Hit West Coast Amid Covid Battle

Cyclone Tauktae – which intensified into a ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’ early this morning – is currently 160 km south-southwest of Mumbai and is “very likely” to reach the Gujarat coast this evening with gusts of up to 200 km per hour, the weather department has said. 

Gusty winds and rains lashed Mumbai and its neighbouring areas overnight and on Monday morning as the “very severe cyclonic storm” Tauktae was heading towards Gujarat, officials said. There was no water-logging anywhere in the metropolis, but trees were uprooted at several places, they said, adding that no casualty was reported so far.

In view of the high speed winds, the Bandra-Worli sea-link was closed for traffic and people were asked to take alternate routes, a senior official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

Local trains services of the Central Railway were disrupted between suburban Ghatkopar and Vikhroli as a tree branch fell on a train heading towards neighbouring Thane, a railway spokesperson said. 

Windspeed warnings – 120-140 km per hour with gusts up to 165 km per hour – have also been issued for Bharuch and south Ahmedabad. Similar warnings – 90-100 km per hour with gusts up to 120 km per hour – have also been sounded in Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Morbi and Kheda for early Tuesday.

An estimated 1.5 lakh people are being shifted from low-lying coastal areas in Gujarat while 54 teams of the NDRF and SDRF remained deployed on Sunday in view of the IMD’s warning that the very severe cyclonic storm Tauktae will reach the state coast on Monday evening and cross it on early Tuesday morning.

Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the preparedness for Cyclone Tauktae in Gujarat, Maharashtra and two Union territories on Sunday and “specifically” stressed that all health facilities, including those for COVID-19 treatment, falling in the affected areas should be secured along with the patients

“With the cyclone likely to affect power supply, hospitals treating COVID-19 patients have been asked to ensure power back-up. Arrangements have also been made to ensure uninterrupted generation of medical oxygen in the eight manufacturing units and buffer stock is also created,” Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said. 

Here are the LIVE Updates on Cyclone Tauktae:

Flights Diverted from Mumbai

The three flights diverted so far include 1 Spicejet diverted to Surat, 1 Indigo flights returned back to Lucknow and 1 Indigo flight diverted to Hyderabad

Worli Sea Link closed in Mumbai

Waterlogging at Mahalaxmi signal in Mumbai

Maharashtra Chief Minister closely monitoring situation in State

CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray is closely monitoring the #CycloneTauktae situation in the State.

So far, 12,420 citizens were relocated to safer places from the coastal areas.

Mumbai, Thane & Palghar districts are on orange alert while Raigad district is on red alert.

– CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 17, 2021

Mumbai’s Andheri subway is temporarily closed

Andheri subway is temporarily closed for commute due to #waterlogging

Mumbaikars are requested to preferably stay indoors. If moving out is absolutely unavoidable, use alternate route

We are right here to help in any emergency. You please stay indoors.#TauktaeCyclonepic.twitter.com/4USuXTUrU8

– Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) May 17, 2021

Cyclone Tauktae: Heavy Rains in Mumbai and nearby areas

The extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae moved with a speed of about 15 kmph during past 06 hours, and lay centred at 0830 hours IST today about 150 km west of Mumbai, 220 km south-southeast of Diu, 260 km southeast of Veraval (Gujarat).

Dear Mumbaikars, Bandra-Worli sea link will be closed to commute till further update.

Please take alternate routes if at all you plan to move out.

The best plan however is to stay indoors today unless it’s absolutely unavoidable#CycloneTauktaehttps://t.co/eJD55GEyeJ

– माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) May 17, 2021

Mumbai is quite windy, citizens to take care and keep a tab on updates from the IMD: KS Hosalilar, head SID, Climate Research & Services, IMD Pune

“#TauktaeCyclone Today morning at 0700 hrs Mumbai much much windy now, Overcast Sky, now mod rains and can pickup soon. No water logging so far…,” Mr Hosalikar tweeted.

IMD issues a detailed wind warning for Cyclonic Storm Tauktae

Mumbai airport to be shut from 11 am to 2 pm as Cyclone Tauktae approaches

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Tauktae” over Eastcentral Arabian Sea intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: Cyclone Warning & post landfall outlook for Gujarat & Diu coasts (Red message).https://t.co/nIG8rzj9Vhpic.twitter.com/DAJCsnuRVw

– India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2021

Indian Air Force had deployed two C-130J and a An-32 aircraft for transportation of 167 personnel and 16.5 tonnes of load of NDRF from Kolkata to Ahmedabad

Cyclone Tauktae: Light rain with gusty winds in Mumbai

A light spell of rain and gusty winds was witnessed in the early hours of Monday in view of the Cyclone Tauktae in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that moderate to intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 75-85 kmph is likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar and Ratnagiri during the next three hours.

It predicted a maximum of 36 degrees and a minimum of 27-degree temperature for the day with a generally cloudy sky with moderate rain accompanied by gusty winds in the city with a possibility of heavy falls at isolated places.

Maharashtra: Light spell of rain and gusty winds seen in in view of Cyclone Tauktae; early morning visuals from Wadala area of Mumbai pic.twitter.com/ZD1SZ4r0e5

– ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021

Cyclone Tauktae intensifies: Gujarat braces for impact

The weather office has predicted light to moderate rainfall in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Narmada, Tapi, Surat, Bharuch, Dang and Dahod districts because of the cyclone. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in isolated areas in Gujarat on Monday.

44 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 10 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), as well as teams of the fire brigade, police, and coast guard have been deployed.

Rescue teams have been deployed in Gujarat

Gujarat | In view of Cyclone Tauktae, people living on coastal areas of Malia in Junagadh were evacuated y’day. Inspecting arrangements,Collector Sourabh Pardhi said,” over 1200 people evacuated. All precautionary measures are being taken with food & shelter arrangements in place” pic.twitter.com/pdtN8zCMlj

– ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2021