Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today appealed to the people of Mumbai to "stay indoors" as Cyclone Nisarga has been forecast by the weather office to make landfall in the state's coast tomorrow.
The cyclone that formed due to a low pressure area in the Arabian Sea comes at a time when the state with the highest number of coronavirus cases in India has been struggling to deal with an overburdened healthcare infrastructure. Any damage left in the wake of the cyclone will add more stress and could complicate the fight against COVID-19.
The Chief Minister asked the residents of Mumbai to be prepared to face possible power cuts as strong winds hit the city. He asked them to charge their gadgets and if possible, keep emergency lights handy.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that tropical cyclone Nisarga has headed for the Maharashtra coast, and is going to make landfall on June 3 close to Mumbai.
"Depression over east-central Arabian Sea lay near latitude 14.4deg N and longitude 71.2deg E about 300 km west-southwest of Panjim, 550 km south-southwest of Mumbai and 770 km south-southwest of Surat," the IMD added.
The organisation has advised, "fishermen not to venture into the southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area and along and off Kerala coast during next 48 hours; east-central Arabian Sea and along with off Karnataka-Goa coasts till June 3 east-central the Arabian Sea along and off Maharashtra coast and the northeast Arabian Sea along and off Gujarat coast during June 3-4."
Yesterday, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said it has positioned nine teams in vulnerable districts - three in Mumbai, two in Palghar, one in Thane, one in Raigad, one in Ratnagiri and one in Sindhudurg.
Here are the live updates on Cyclone Nisarga:
Twenty teams of NDRF have been deployed in the state of Maharashtra to tackle the cyclone Nisarga. Here's a breakup:
1. Mumbai 8 teams
2. Raigad 5 teams
3. Palghar 2 teams
4. Thane 2 teams (1 enroute)
5. Ratnagiri 2 teams
6. Sindhudurg 1 team
No one is allowed to come out in public places like beaches, parks and promenades along the Mumbai coastline as Cyclone Nisarga is forecast to make landfall around noon on Wednesday, the police said in a late night order.
The ban is from Wednesday morning till next day's noon, the police said in the order, anyone caught violating the ban will face criminal action. Read More
Considering the impending threat posed by Cyclone Nisarga, which is likely to hit Mumbai on June 3, the Central Railways rescheduled eight trains which were supposed to arrive or depart from the state capital on Wednesday.
The timings of 02542 LTT-Gorakhpur, 06345 LTT-Thiruvananthapuram, 01061 LTT-Darbhanga, 01071 LTT-Varanasi, 01019 CSMT-Bhubaneshwar special trains, which were scheduled to leave Mumbai area during daytime, were changed to night, according to the Central Railways.
Similarly, special trains from Patna, Varanasi, and Thiruvananthapuram, which were scheduled to reach during the daytime, were regulated and will now arrive in Mumbai behind schedule.
Cyclone Nisarga, which is moving towards Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts, will turn into a severe cyclone on Wednesday and will make landfall near Alibaug, triggering heavy rainfall and wind with speed upto 110 kilometre per hour, India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday. It is the first storm in over a century that threatens Mumbai.
"It is very likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross north Maharashtra and adjoining south Gujarat coast between Harihareshwar and Daman, close to Alibagh (Raigad District, Maharashtra) during the afternoon June 3 with a maximum sustained wind speed of 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph," an IMD statement said.
Read More
Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will be operating a total of 19 flights, which include 11 departures and 8 arrivals, on June 3.
The flights will be operated by 5 airlines which include Air Asia India, Air India, IndiGo, GoAir and SpiceJet.
There could be changes to the schedule and passengers are requested to check the schedule with their respective airline before leaving for the airport, the airport said in a statement.
5 NDRF teams each from Bathinda and Vijaywada airlifted successfully for joining ongoing operations for Cyclone Nisarga in Gujarat and Maharashtra respectively. 5 teams for Gujarat already landed in Surat. 5 teams for Maharashtra airborne: NDRF Director General SN Pradhan tells news agency ANI.
#CycloneNisarga - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will be operating only 12 arrival flights on June 3. The flights will be operated by 4 airlines which include Air Asia India, Air India, GoAir and SpiceJet to 10 sectors: GVK Mumbai International Airport
- ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2020
The Cyclonic storm Nisarga over East-central Arabian Sea moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 13 kmph during the past six hours.
"The cyclonic storm lay centred at 5.30 pm today over East-central Arabian Sea near latitude 16.3degN and longitude 71.3degE, about 280 km west-northwest of Panjim (Goa), 350 km south-southwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra), 300 km south-southwest of Alibaug (Maharashtra) and 560 km south-southwest of Surat (Gujarat)," India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Cyclone Nisarga: Over 21,000 To Be Evacuated From Maharashtra's PalgharOver 21,000 residents of 22 villages in Maharashtra's Palghar district will be evacuated ahead of cyclonic storm "Nisarga", which is likely to hit the coast on June 3, a district official said today."
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today appealed to the people of the state to "stay indoors" as Cyclone Nisarga has been forecast by the weather office to make landfall in the state's coast tomorrow. Read more here
Maharashtra: Mumbai receives rainfall as #Nisarga approaches western coast of India. Cyclone is likely to make landfall near Alibaug tomorrow.
- ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2020
Mumbai police has issued order under section 144 of CrPC prohibiting movement of people on beaches, promenades& other places near coast. pic.twitter.com/X8K059LaC2
Maharashtra:National Disaster Response Force team has been deployed in Palghar in view of #CycloneNisarga.An NDRF official says,"We'll be evacuating people from coastal areas of about 13 villages&are prepared to carry out the operation while following social distancing norms". pic.twitter.com/9q1hOFvmHK
- ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2020
Gujarat: NDRF and police evacuate people from Mendhar and Bhat villages of Navsari district in view of #CycloneNisarga pic.twitter.com/K8coGV4cCF
- ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2020
Took stock of the situation in the wake of cyclone conditions in parts of India's western coast.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 2, 2020
Praying for everyone's well-being. I urge people to take all possible precautions and safety measures.
#Watch | "One lesson that #Apmhan taught us is that you have to evacuate well in time": Satya Pradhan, Director General, NDRF on #CycloneNisarga preparedness pic.twitter.com/kCtMxfWrbF
- NDTV (@ndtv) June 2, 2020
Watch | @IndiaCoastGuard ships, shore stations issue warnings to fishermen and merchant vessels about impending adverse weather and request them to return to nearest harbour as #CycloneNisarga closes in. pic.twitter.com/85I0mlj6Jf
- NDTV (@ndtv) June 2, 2020
A cyclone is expected to hit western coast of Maharashtra on 3 June. All precautions are being taken to ensure zero casualty, including relocating people from unsafe localities. Citizens are requested to stay away from the sea & not stand under tree or pillar. #CycloneNisarga pic.twitter.com/ECXz3og4pv
- माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) June 1, 2020
Preparedness for #NisargaCyclone pic.twitter.com/n9G6WriWQU
- CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 2, 2020
Depression over east-central Arabian sea intensified into Deep Depression. To intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm and cross Maharashtra coast during 3rd June afternoon.Cyclone Alert for north Maharashtra south Gujarat coasts: IMD pic.twitter.com/Mj3wb8k72t
- ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2020
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani chaired a high level meeting yesterday over #CycloneNisarga, in Ahmedabad. The cyclone is expected to cross Harihareshwar (Maharashtra) & Daman coast on the evening of June 3. pic.twitter.com/3U9hMqEatV
- ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2020
Maharashtra: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams deployed in Palghar conduct survey in the district and take stock of the situation, in view of impending severe cyclone. pic.twitter.com/Uba1CDerAc
- ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2020
- Fishermen have been asked to come back from the sea and respective district collectors have been asked to ensure there is no loss of life, a stame from the Maharashtra Chief Minister's office said.
- Hospitals that are not treating coronavirus patients will be made available for those needing medical assistance, it added.
- The storm may cause major damage to thatched houses, huts, power and communication lines and coastal crops, the weather department has said.
- Steps are being taken to ensure there is no disruption of power supply at a time when the state is battling the coronavirus crisis and thousands of patients are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, the NDRF said on Monday.
- Tropical storm "Nisarga", which is headed towards the coasts in Maharashtra and Gujarat, is likely to intensify into a cyclone in the next 12 hours and is expected to make a landfall close to Mumbai tomorrow.
- This would be the first cyclonic storm to impact India's financial capital, which has logged over 41,000 coronavirus cases so far, since 1882.
- It may further intensify into a "severe cyclonic storm" in the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department or IMD said this morning.
- Mumbai and neighbouring districts have been placed on high alert.
