21 dead, 96 missing as Cyclone leaves behind trail of destruction.

Byline By- Balakrishna

The Extremely Severe Cyclone Tauktae, which hit the Gujarat coast last evening, has weakened into a ‘very Severe’ class even as it rages through southern Gujarat on Tuesday morning.

Worst is over, says NDRF chief. “It was very important to clear the roads and vital arteries of communication during these troubled times of COVID-19. We have sent troops and personnel who have been vaccinated with both doses,” National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General SN Pradhan further said adding that they were equipped with special suits and accompanied by paramedics, doctors and attendants while sharing his hope that the forces will come out unscathed by the pandemic.

Authorities at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that in spite of finishing more than 12 hours since the storm hit land, it keeps on maintaining a wind speed of 110-120km/hr blasting to 130 km/hr.
“The framework is required to debilitate into the ‘Cyclonic Storm’ by evening long stretches of Tuesday and further debilitate into a downturn before the day’s over,” said a senior Met official.

“The system is expected to weaken into the ‘Cyclonic Storm’ by afternoon hours of Tuesday and further weaken into a depression by the end of the day,” said a senior Met official.

Some heavy showers were accounted during the interviewing night of Monday and Tuesday post the cyclone’s landfall, Amerli — 116mm, Surat — 85mm, and Bhavnagar — 60mm (between 8.30 pm of Monday and 7.30 am on Tuesday).