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:
Army personnel last night cleared the road between Gujarat's Somnath district and Diu, which was blocked due to fallen trees; soon after vehicular movement also resumed #CycloneTauktae pic.twitter.com/9KAbyzBhh9
- ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2021
Rain and gusty winds seen in Una town of Saurashtra near Diu, at midnight today#CycloneTauktae pic.twitter.com/0u0mNUYha7
- ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2021
Patients from a COVID care centre in Gujarat's Vadodara were shifted to hospitals, yesterday
- ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
Nodal Officer Sheetal Mistry said, "In view of IMD's warning for #CycloneTauktae, we are shifting COVID-19 patients from various facilities to hospitals." pic.twitter.com/VjMpgKtsAs
The road between Gujarat's Somnath district and the Union Territory of Diu (Daman & Diu) which was blocked due to fallen trees, has been cleared by the Army personnel for movement of vehicles.#CycloneTautkae pic.twitter.com/T7uo5k0MIS
- ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
Cyclone Tauktae update
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2021
At 2230 IST - centre of the cyclone now lies overland about 20kms East-northeast of Diu.
The landfall process will continue for next 2hrs. pic.twitter.com/Wtys5trofN
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).
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.
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2021
Landfall Process of ESCS TAUKTAE CONTINUES. pic.twitter.com/angZUY4RdJ
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2021
#WATCH | Earlier visuals from Veraval - Somnath in Gujarat as the sea turned rough in wake of #CycloneTauktae.
- ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
Extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae lies close to the Gujarat coast. The landfall process has started and will continue during next 2 hours, says IMD. pic.twitter.com/7KojZcXS27
The ESCS TAUKTAE lies close to Gujarat coast. The landfall process started and will continue during next 02 hours.
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2021
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.
A powerful cyclonic system, Tauktae, is expected to make landfall in Gujarat late Monday after barrelling up the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean."
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 swept the coastal regions Maharashtra through the day today, battering districts like Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Mumbai, and Thane. PM Narendra Modi called Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take stock of the situation."
#WATCH Maharashtra | Juhu beach in Mumbai remains deserted, sea conditions turn rough. #CycloneTauktae pic.twitter.com/xWpjSstieM
- ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
Coast 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.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Arabian Sea turns rough, in wake of #CycloneTaukte. Visuals from Marine Drive in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/ovbFFJPruQ
- ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
At 1430 hours IST, Tauktae lay about 165 km west-northwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra), and 130 south-southeast of Diu. To cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva, east of Diu tonight (2000-2300 hrs IST). pic.twitter.com/6fn51sWhtA
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2021
Raigad 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.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held a meeting to review the Tauktae cyclone impact in the state via video conference.
- ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
"Issued directions to all the State Govt Departments to work on war footing to restore essential services and also assess the damage in detail," he says. pic.twitter.com/V6vKaEkWRO
In the wake of Cyclone Tauktae, visited the Emergency Management & Control Room at Mantralaya to review the cyclone situation, rescue and relief work. The concerned District & State administration is fully prepared to ensure swift rescue and relief work for the citizens. pic.twitter.com/YxhnPQo7zW
- Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) May 17, 2021
Authorities have shut Mumbai Airport till 4 pm as cyclone emerges
Gujarat: Cabinet Minister Kunvarjibhai Bavaliya visits Amreli to take stock of the preparedness for #CycloneTauktae pic.twitter.com/k1SOluhtwd
- ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
#WaterLogging Update
- Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) May 17, 2021
North bound traffic is slow at Pushpa Park, Malad East.
Please avoid venturing out unless it's an unavoidable emergency. We are out on streets to assist in need of any help and trust us, you are better off indoors. #TauktaeCyclone https://t.co/t5PXIkpA6F pic.twitter.com/5Pib3ygY3X
Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Tauktae
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2021
INSAT 3D satellite-based centre position
at 1030 IST - 19.1N & 71.5E
which is 193 km south-southeast of Diu pic.twitter.com/9ySxqZZI2t
CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray is closely monitoring the #CycloneTauktae situation in the State.
- CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 17, 2021
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.
Andheri subway is temporarily closed for commute due to #waterlogging
- Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) May 17, 2021
Mumbaikars are requested to preferably stay indoors. If moving out is absolutely unavoidable, use alternate route
We are right here to help in any emergency. You please stay indoors.#TauktaeCyclone pic.twitter.com/4USuXTUrU8
#TauktaeCyclone
- K S Hosalikar (@Hosalikar_KS) May 17, 2021
Raigad... pic.twitter.com/lWr4IxKQV1
Dear Mumbaikars, Bandra-Worli sea link will be closed to commute till further update.
- माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) May 17, 2021
Please take alternate routes if at all you plan to move out.
The best plan however is to stay indoors today unless it's absolutely unavoidable#CycloneTauktae https://t.co/eJD55GEyeJ
#TauktaeCyclone
- K S Hosalikar (@Hosalikar_KS) May 17, 2021
Today morning at 0700 hrs
Mumbai much much windy now, Overcast Sky, now mod rains and can pickup soon. No water logging so far...Good
170 km from Mumbai, moving NNW
Mumbai take care and watch all updates from IMD.@RMC_Mumbai pic.twitter.com/fasnyoBqLm
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm "Tauktae" over Eastcentral Arabian Sea intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: Cyclone Warning & post landfall outlook for Gujarat & Diu coasts (Red message).https://t.co/nIG8rzj9Vh pic.twitter.com/DAJCsnuRVw
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2021
Maharashtra: Light spell of rain and gusty winds seen in in view of Cyclone Tauktae; early morning visuals from Wadala area of Mumbai pic.twitter.com/ZD1SZ4r0e5
- ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
Gujarat: Fishing boats in Navsari float on the seashore in the wake of #CycloneTauktae
- ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021
Visuals from Ojal Machhiwad village pic.twitter.com/f35g2c7Rh3
Gujarat | In view of Cyclone Tauktae, people living on coastal areas of Malia in Junagadh were evacuated y'day. Inspecting arrangements,Collector Sourabh Pardhi said," over 1200 people evacuated. All precautionary measures are being taken with food & shelter arrangements in place" pic.twitter.com/pdtN8zCMlj
- ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2021