Extremely Severe – “Cyclone Tauktae” to hit Gujrat: Know the consequences

Cyclone Tauktae – which increased into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm” early earlier today – is as of now 160 km south-southwest of Mumbai and is “very likely” to arrive at the Gujarat coast this evening with whirlwinds to 200 km each hour, the weather department has said.

Gusty wind and rains lashed Mumbai and its neighbouringregions overnight and on Monday morning as the “very severe cyclonic storm” Tauktae was going towards Gujarat, authorities said. There was no water-logging anyplace in the city, yet trees were removed at a few spots, they said, adding that no causality accounted for up until now. 

Taking into account the high velocity winds, the Bandra-Worliocean interface was shut for traffic and individuals were approached to take backup courses of action, a senior authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. 

Local trains services of the Central Railway were disturbed between rural Ghatkopar and Vikhroli as a tree limb fell on a train heading towards adjoining Thane, a railwayrepresentative said. 

An estimated 1.5 lakh individuals are being moved from low-lying seaside territories in Gujarat while 54 groups of the NDRF and SDRF remained deployed on Sunday considering the IMD’s warning that the serious cyclonic storm Tauktaewill arrive at the state coast on Monday evening and cross it on early Tuesday morning. 

Home Minister Amit Shah audited the preparedness for Cyclone Tauktae in Gujarat, Maharashtra and two Union territories on Sunday and “explicitly” focused on that all health facilities, including those for COVID-19 treatmentfalling 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.