Cyclone Tauktae continued to batter Mumbai with heavy rains through the day today.
Mumbai:
Six people died and 17 were injured in Maharashtra as Cyclone Tauktae, intensifying into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm”, swept the coastal regions of the state through the day today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take stock of the situation.
The storm was expected to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva, east of Diu tonight between 10 pm and 11 pm tonight, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.
Earlier in the day, windspeeds hit 114 kilometres per hour, the “highest ever for Mumbai in any recent records”, according to state minister Aditya Thackeray.
Today’s cyclone hit windspeeds of 114 kmph, highest ever for Mumbai in any recent records. This is a climatic pattern that we have started studying, along with its maximum impact points, water logging areas and types of trees that are damaged.
(3/5)— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) May 17, 2021
The Prime Minister also called up Chief Ministers of Gujarat and Goa, besides the Lieutenant Governor of Daman & Diu, to discuss the preparation and response to the storm, agencies reported.
Mumbaikars today woke up to gusty winds and heavy showers, a change from the usual warm and humid climate. The city continued to be battered by heavy rains through the day.
The airport was shut through the day and the Bandra-Worli sea link closed, as was the city monorail service. Temporary shelters have been set up across the city.
Water logging was reported from low-lying areas of the city such as Mahalaxmi, Andheri, Hindmata, and King’s Circle. Nearly 480 reports of tree or branch-fall were recorded from across the city besides electric short-circuit at 17 places.
No fatalities were reported in Mumbai, although two possible drownings are yet to be confirmed. Neighbouring Thane, though, reported two deaths while Raigad had the most at three.
Nearly 13,300 people were evacuated from danger zones across the state till around 6 pm.
State Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik said 193 COVID-19 patients admitted in a makeshift centre in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex had been shifted to other BMC-run hospitals due to the heavy rains that lashed the city.
The police have been asked to maintain close coordination with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials ward-wise to implement mitigation measures, an official told PTI.
“All police stations and posts have been asked to check communication equipment like wireless sets and public address systems to ensure they are working optimally. The same instructions have been given for vehicles and life-saving and rescue items like life jackets, first-aid kits, ropes, hammers, emergency lighting, stretchers etc,” the official informed.
Farmers in some parts of Konkan have suffered losses due to the situation. Spot inspections have begun, according to Mr Malik.
The Indian Coast Guard said it had rescued 12 fishermen stranded around 35 nautical miles off the Kochi coast amid rough seas due to the cyclone on the night of May 16.