In five states – Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra- more than 50 teams of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) have already been employed.
The weather office has said that the cyclonic storm Tauktae, which is likely to intensify into a “severe cyclonic storm” within 12 hours, may hit Gujarat coast by Tuesday morning. Gujarat and Diu coasts are under a cyclone watch. The first cyclonic storm of this year comes at a time when India is battling a massive second wave of Covid-19 infections, and there has been a significant rise in cases in the last two months.
It is likely to intensify further into a “very severe cyclonic storm” in the next 24 hours, reports said.
In five states – Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra- more than 50 teams of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) have already been employed.
The India Meteorological Department has said that very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall “causing flash floods and landslides” over the coastal districts of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa till Sunday and Saurashtra, Kutch in Gujarat on Tuesday and Wednesday is expected.
Rescue teams were seen helping residents in the visuals from Kerala’s Kochi, which was hit by heavy rainfall on Friday.
At 5 PM this evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a review meeting.
In several parts of the country, red and orange alerts have been sounded. Low-lying areas of the Islands of Lakshadweep are likely to get flooded.
Along with tourism activities being restricted, fishermen have been asked to avoid heading to the Arabian Sea till Tuesday, and necessary precautions have been advised for naval operations in anticipation of rough sea.
As per an official statement from the weather office, the deep depression that formed over the Arabian Sea near Lakshwadeep intensified overnight into a Cyclonic Storm “Tauktae” (pronounced as Tau’Te).
Cyclonic Storm “Tauktae” (pronounced as Tau’Te) over eastcentral and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea: Cyclone Alert for Gujarat & Diu coasts (Yellow message) pic.twitter.com/fmcTMVmrjg
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 15, 2021
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