The cyclonic storm triggered strong wind, heavy rainfall, high tidal waves in Karnataka, Kerala and Goa
Cyclone Tauktae, the biggest to hit the region in decades, made landfall in Gujarat at around 8.30 pm on Monday, packing winds with speeds of 155-165 kilometres per hour, gusting to 190 km/hour. After the landfall ended around midnight, the weather office downgraded the storm from 'extremely severe' to 'very severe'. It later said in a tweet that the cyclone was weakening further.
In a relief to the people, the IMD, in its tweet after midnight, also announced that Cyclone Tauktae has weakened into a "very severe cyclonic storm" from the "extremely severe cyclonic storm".
"The entire eye of the cyclone has now crossed the coast and lies over land. The rear sector of the eye is now entering the land" the IMD tweeted.
Meanwhile, flight operations at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, halted for hours due to the cyclone, have been resumed. The cyclone triggered strong winds with the highest-ever speed of 114 kilometres per hour in Mumbai.
At least six people were killed and several injured in Maharashtra as Cyclone Tauktae brushed past the state while eight people died in cyclone-affected coastal Karnataka.
The NDRF on Monday said it has evacuated thousands of stranded people in the last three days in Gujarat, Kerala and Daman and Diu in view of Cyclone Tauktae.
The major ports and airports have been shut in Gujarat as the most powerful cyclone in more than two decades roared up the west coast. The cyclone has left a trail of destruction as it brushed past the coastal states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, the authorities said.
Home Minister Amit Shah also reviewed the preparedness for Cyclone Tauktae in Gujarat, Maharashtra and two Union territories on Sunday and "specifically" stressed that all health facilities, including those for COVID-19 treatment, falling in the affected areas should be secured along with the patients.
Here are the Highlights on Cyclone Tauktae:
Cyclone: Navy Ships Rescue 132 From Barge Adrift Near Mumbai
The Indian Navy has rescued 132 people on board a barge that went adrift in the Arabia Sea near Mumbai hours before a very severe cyclonic storm with winds gusting up to 185 km per hour made landfall on the Gujarat coast, an official said on Tuesday.
The Navy had deployed three of its frontline warships after receiving messages to rescue 410 people on board two barges off the Mumbai coast on Monday.
The ships deployed to extend assistance to the two barges were INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Talwar.
"A total of 132 persons from Barge P305 have been rescued in extremely challenging sea conditions," a Navy spokesperson said on Tuesday morning.
Cyclone Tauktae Continues To Show Weakening Trend, Informs Weather DepartmentAs Cyclone Tauktae continues to impact several states on the Western Coast including Gujarat, damaging structures, electricity lines, and uprooting trees, the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday informed that the cyclone is continuing to show a weakening trend.
"Extremely severe" Cyclone Tauktae unleashed devastating winds that reached speeds up to 190 kilometres per hour as the storm made landfall in Gujarat, damaging structures, electricity lines, and uprooting trees.
In a tweet by the meteorological department, it read, "The Cyclone continues to show weakening trend. Eye is disorganising, wall cloud is weakening."
"The very Severe Cyclonic storm ''Tauktae'' lay centred at 0230 HRS IST of 18TH MAY 2021 over SAURASHTRA, near LAT. 21.05degN AND LONG. 71.15degE, about 75 KM north-northeast of Diu and 30 KM south of AMRELI", tweets IMD.
"Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ''Tauktae'' moved north wards with a speed of 15 KMPH during past 06 hours", read another tweet by the department.
"Extremely" Severe Cyclone Tauktae Weakens Into "Very Severe Cyclonic Storm": IMD''Extremely'' Severe Cyclonic Storm, Tauktae is now weakening into a ''Very'' severe cyclonic storm, as per the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday.
A powerful cyclone has battered country's west coast and made landfall in Gujarat on Monday night and the process is likely to continue for three hours, confirmed the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as authorities evacuated thousands of people.
In a tweet by the meteorological department, it read, "The ''Extremely'' Severe Cyclonic Storm ''Tauktae'' weakened into a very severe cyclonic storm and lay centres at 2330 hrs IST of 17th May 2021 over SAURASHTRA, near LAT. 20.9degN and LONG. 71.10degE, about 30 KM northeast of Diu. Rear Sector of the eye wall region is entering into land."
Dubbed an "extremely severe cyclonic storm" by the Indian Meteorological Department, the cyclone, named Tauktae, brought with it wind speeds of 160 to 170 kilometres per hour (99.4 -105.6 miles per hour) with gusts of up to 190 km/h (118 mph), storm surges.
"Cyclone Tauktae update 00 IST 18th May 2021 The entire eye of cyclone has now crossed the coast and lies overland. The rear sector of the eyewall is now entering the land", tweeted IMD.
Cyclone Tauktae: Winds, Rain Partially Damage 190 Structures In PuneGusty winds coupled with rains caused by very severe cyclonic storm Tauktae led to collpase of roofs of houses and uprooting of utility poles in Pune district of Maharashtra on Monday, officials said.
Three people sustained minor injuries, they said.
At least 190 instances of partial structural damage such as roof collapse, uprooting of poles etc have been reported in the district since Sunday.
A total of 90 people from Bhor tehsil were shifted to safer places due to gusty winds, as per the district disaster management cell (DDMC).
"In Shirur tehsil, two people sustained minor injuries after a house was damaged partially. Two goats and as many sheep died due to electrocution in Baramati tehsil," said an official from the DDMC.
In Mulshi tehsil, around 75 instances of the partial structural damage were reported.
The tin shed roof of a private school blew away due to the strong winds and the office of a gram panchayat also sustained damage.
"Since Sunday, atotal of 190 instances of partial structural damage have been reported in Mulshi, Khed, Maval, and Bhor tehsils in the district. Around 90 people in Mulshi tehsil were shifted to safer places as a preventive measure," said the officer, news agency PTI reported.
Cyclone Tauktae: Winds, rain partially damage 190 structures in Pune
Gusty winds coupled with rains caused by very severe cyclonic storm Tauktae led to collpase of roofs of houses and uprooting of utility poles in Pune district of Maharashtra on Monday, officials said.
Three people sustained minor injuries, they said.
At least 190 instances of partial structural damage such as roof collapse, uprooting of poles etc have been reported in the district since Sunday.
A total of 90 people from Bhor tehsil were shifted to safer places due to gusty winds, as per the district disaster management cell (DDMC).
Cyclone Tauktae: 121 villages affected in KarnatakaEight people have lost their lives so far in the cyclone Tauktae-hit coastal and surrounding Malnad districts of Karnataka, officials said on Monday.
According to a situation report by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority officials, till this evening, 121 villages in seven districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Belagavi have been affected by the cyclone.
Among the 121 villages affected, a maximum of 48 are from Uttara Kannada district.
Among the eight deaths reported, two each are from Dakshina Kannada and Belagavi, and one each from Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga, officials said.
Cyclone Tauktae: Operations at Ahmedabad Airport shut till 5 am on Tuesday
Operations at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport shall remain suspended from 7:30 pm on May 17 to 5 am on May 18 in view of the Cyclone Tauktae, informed the Ahmedabad Airport.
"Ahmedabad Airport is fully prepared for Cyclone Tauktae, and as a precautionary measure our operations will remain suspended from 7:30 pm, May 17 to 5 am May 18. We will keep you updated for further developments," Ahmedabad Airport tweeted on Monday.
The operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai was suspended till 10 pm on May 17 due to Cyclone Tauktae.
Cyclone Tauktae: Evacuated thousands in Gujarat, Kerala, Daman and Diu, says disaster response forceThe NDRF on Monday said it has evacuated thousands of stranded people in the last three days in Gujarat, Kerala and Daman and Diu in view of Cyclone Tauktae.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that Tauktae has now intensified into an "extremely severe cyclonic storm". It is likely to reach the Gujarat coast by Monday evening and cross the state coast between 8 pm and 11 pm.
"Teams are continuously cutting and clearing heavy trees and electric poles that have been uprooted and crashed on roads. Extensive efforts are being made to bring the situation to normal in the affected states."
"In the last three days, the force has evacuated thousands of stranded people to safer places in Gujarat, Kerala and Daman and Diu and it is assisting district administration in mass evacuation of the people from the coast line," an NDRF spokesperson said.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked a total of 101 teams, with 47 personnel in each, for undertaking relief and rescue operations in the aftermath of the cyclone in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Cyclone Tauktae: Landfall process continues
At least six people have been killed and several injured in Maharashtra as Cyclone Tauktae brushed past the state, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Eight people have died in cyclone-affected coastal Karnataka. According to a report by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, 121 villages in seven districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Belagavi have been affected by the cyclone.
Just In | The Mumbai airport, shut due to cyclone Tauktae, has resumed operations
The centre of the cyclone is 35km east-southeast of Diu and it will cross Saurastra coast to east of Diu within 3 hours
Cyclone Tauktae Satellige image shows the forward sector of cyclone's eye entering the western coast
Cyclone Tauktae: Over 55 flights cancelled at Mumbai airportMore than 55 flights, both incoming and outbound, were cancelled at the city's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Monday after the private airport operator was forced to suspend all air services at 11 am due to cyclone ''Tauktae''.
These cancellations apart, some seven incoming flights were also diverted to various airports.
The CSMIA for the fourth time in the day extended the closure of operations till 10 pm after first announcing that the airport will remain closed for three hours, starting 11 am.
With the announcement of the cyclone alert, Mumbai Airport has closed all flight operations with effect from 11 am till 10 pm on May 17, the CSMIA said in a late evening statement.
Cyclone Tauktae: Major Gujarat airports shutAs cyclone Tauktae continued its relentless march towards the coast of Gujarat, where it is expected to make a landfall by Monday night, major airports in the state shutdown operations till Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
Barring the Rajkot airport, which will remain shut for flights till May 19, other three major airports - Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara - will remain closed for both domestic and international flights till Tuesday, officials said.
Cyclone Tauktae: Water-logging, tree fall affect Mumbai train servicesSuburban train services on Central and Western Railways were affected on Monday due to heavy rains and gusty winds in the wake of cyclone Tauktae heading towards the coast of Gujarat, officials said.
Services between CSMT and Wadala on Central Railway's Harbour line were suspended on Monday from 1:20pm due to water-logging on the tracks near Masjid station.
Cyclone Tauktae: NDRF briefs locals in Gujarat villages on precautions to minimise the cyclone's impact
The NDRF briefed the locals about the severity of the cyclone in Gujarat villages of Wakhna, Metpur, Khambat. The locals were also briefed them about the precautions to be taken during the cyclone to minimise its impact.
Cyclone Tauktae: 121 villages affected in KarnatakaEight people have lost their lives so far in the Cyclone Tauktae-hit coastal and surrounding malnad districts of Karnataka, officials said on Monday.
According to a situation report by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority officials, till this evening, 121 villages in seven districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Belagavi have been affected by the cyclone.
Among the 121 villages affected, a maximum of 48 are from Uttara Kannada district.
Cyclone Tauktae: 12 flood rescue teams earmarked for immediate response
As many as 11 Indian Navy Diving Teams have been kept on standby and 12 flood rescue teams and medical teams have been earmarked for immediate response and deployment keeping in view of the cyclonic storm Tauktae.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting to review the preparedness and assistance being provided by the Armed Forces to civil authorities to tackle the situation arising out of Cyclone Tauktae.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, during the meeting, Singh was informed that 11 Indian Navy Diving Teams have been kept on standby in case of any request from authorities of affected states.
Cyclone Tauktae: Strong winds at 114 kmph strike MumbaiWinds blew at 114 kmph in Mumbai on Monday afternoon as the extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae was passing close to the Mumbai coast barrelling towards Gujarat, civic officials said.
However, as per the Mumbai IMD, the highest wind speed of 108 km per hour was recorded at the Colaba observatory in the afternoon, said Shubhangi Bhute, senior director, IMD Mumbai.
Earlier in the day, the civic body said the wind speed of 114 kmph, the highest during the day, was recorded around 2 pm at its automatic weather station located at Afghan Church in south Mumbai's Colaba area.
At the same time, the Colaba observatory witnessed the wind speed of 108 kmph, the civic body had said.
Cyclone Tauktae: Army puts 180 teams and 9 engineer task forces on standbyThe Army said on Monday it has put 180 teams and nine engineer task forces on standby to face any contingency as Cyclone Tauktae is likely to hit the Gujarat coast on Monday evening.
"Sector commanders and Divisional HQ (headquarter) are in touch with District Collectors and the Revenue Commissioner who is the nodal agency for relief activities in Gujarat," the Army said in a statement.
The Army said it has identified likely areas -- talukas as well as districts -- where the impact could be higher and it has geared up its columns to react immediately.
"Focus is to save lives, speedy clearance of routes to ensure movement of oxygen and standby arrangements at COVID hospitals," it mentioned.
Mumbai airport to remain shut till 8 pm due to cyclone alertThe city's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has extended the suspension of all air services to 8 pm from 6 pm announced earlier due to the cyclone ''Tauktae''.
This is the third time in the day, the private airport operator has extended the closure of operations after first announcing it for three hours, starting 11 am.
"The closure of the flight operations at CSMIA has been extended further till 2000 hours of May 17," the private airport operator said in the updated statement.
Mumbai airport, which is the second busiest aerodrome in the country, is reportedly operating around 250 flights in a day due to low passenger demand amid the deadly and more virulent second wave of the pandemic.
Cyclone Tauktae: Aaditya Thackeray reviews situation in MumbaiMaharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Monday paid a visit to the BMC's disaster management cell here to review the situation arising out of the cyclonic storm Tauktae and said the authorities are doing everything to keep the people of the city safe.
Gusty winds and heavy showers lashed Mumbai and its neighbouring areas on Monday due to the impact of the "very severe cyclonic storm" Tauktae which has barreled towards the Gujarat coast.
Strong winds and heavy rains uprooted trees and disrupted suburban train services in the metropolis, officials said.
Cyclone Tauktae: Coast Guard Ship rescuea 15 crew from a fishing boat off Goa CoastCoast Guard Ship Samarth responding to a distress call rescued 15 crew from a fishing boat named Milad off Goa Coast short while from now in a swift operation . All crew are safe and boat is being towed ashore for safety.
Tauktae rains have affected Konkan farmers, says Maharashtra ministerMaharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik on Monday said farmers in the state's Konkan region had suffered losses due to rains brought about by cyclone Tauktae and work on inspecting and assessing the damage had begun.
In a statement, the state's minority affairs minister also said 193 COVID-19 patients admitted in a makeshift centre in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex have been shifted to other BMC-run hospitals due to the heavy rains that have lashed the metropolis.
Cyclone Tauktae: Visuals from Mumbai's Marine Drive
Cyclone Tauktae: Mumbai cops maintain vigil amid rains, windsPolice personnel in Mumbai have been asked to stay on high alert and communication as well as flood-related life-saving equipment have been kept ready in view of rains and gusty winds expected on Monday as cyclone Tauktae moves towards the coast of Gujarat, an official said.
He said adequate manpower had been made available in police stations and traffic posts on the roads of the metropolis.
"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.
Just In | As a result of the cyclone alert, the closure of operations at Mumbai airport has been further extended until 6 PM
Tauktae: Maharashtra's Raigad receives 23.42mm rains, 839 homes damagedRaigad in coastal Maharashtra received 23.42 millimetres if rainfall till 9am on Monday in the wake of cyclone Tauktae, with the region also experiencing gusty winds since midnight that partially damaged 839 houses, a senior official said.
A release from the district collector's office said 8,383 people belonging to 2,263 families staying in homes along the seafront had been evacuated as a precautionary measure.
PM Modi spoke with Maharashtra Chief Minister over situation related to Cyclone Tauktae today.
So far, 12,420 citizens were relocated to safer places from the coastal areas. Mumbai, Thane & Palghar districts are on orange alert while Raigad district is on red alert: Maharashtra Chief Ministers Office
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held a meeting to review the Tauktae cyclone impact in the state
Mumbai Airport shut till 4 pm
Authorities have shut Mumbai Airport till 4 pm as cyclone emerges
Heavy to very heavy rains very likely at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls in the districts of Saurashtra namely Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar ,Junagadh, Boatd and in Diu; in the districts of Gujarat region namely Valsad, Navsari & in Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli: Weather office
Flights Diverted from Mumbai
The three flights diverted so far include 1 Spicejet diverted to Surat, 1 Indigo flights returned back to Lucknow and 1 Indigo flight diverted to Hyderabad
Worli Sea Link closed in Mumbai 
Waterlogging at Mahalaxmi signal in Mumbai 
Maharashtra Chief Minister closely monitoring situation in State
Mumbai's Andheri subway is temporarily closed
Cyclone Tauktae: Heavy Rains in Mumbai and nearby areas
The extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae moved with a speed of about 15 kmph during past 06 hours, and lay centred at 0830 hours IST today about 150 km west of Mumbai, 220 km south-southeast of Diu, 260 km southeast of Veraval (Gujarat).
Cyclone Tauktae causes destruction in Raigad
Mumbai is quite windy, citizens to take care and keep a tab on updates from the IMD: KS Hosalilar, head SID, Climate Research & Services, IMD Pune
"#TauktaeCyclone Today morning at 0700 hrs Mumbai much much windy now, Overcast Sky, now mod rains and can pickup soon. No water logging so far...," Mr Hosalikar tweeted.
IMD issues a detailed wind warning for Cyclonic Storm Tauktae
Mumbai airport to be shut from 11 am to 2 pm as Cyclone Tauktae approaches
Indian Air Force had deployed two C-130J and a An-32 aircraft for transportation of 167 personnel and 16.5 tonnes of load of NDRF from Kolkata to Ahmedabad
Cyclone Tauktae: Light rain with gusty winds in Mumbai
A light spell of rain and gusty winds was witnessed in the early hours of Monday in view of the Cyclone Tauktae in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that moderate to intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 75-85 kmph is likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar and Ratnagiri during the next three hours.
It predicted a maximum of 36 degrees and a minimum of 27-degree temperature for the day with a generally cloudy sky with moderate rain accompanied by gusty winds in the city with a possibility of heavy falls at isolated places.
Cyclone Tauktae intensifies: Gujarat braces for impactThe weather office has predicted light to moderate rainfall in Gujarat's Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Narmada, Tapi, Surat, Bharuch, Dang and Dahod districts because of the cyclone. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in isolated areas in Gujarat on Monday.
44 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 10 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), as well as teams of the fire brigade, police, and coast guard have been deployed.
Rescue teams have been deployed in Gujarat