NEW DELHI, May 17 (NNN-PTI) – Cyclonic storm, Tauktae, today intensified into an extremely severe storm, and likely to hit India’s Gujarat by the evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said.
Tauktae intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, and lay centered at 5:30 a.m. local time today, over east-central Arabian Sea, about 160 km west-southwest of Mumbai, the federal ministry of earth science, quoting the IMD, said.
It said, the cyclone is very likely to reach Gujarat coast in the evening and cross the area between Porbandar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district during the night, as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kph, gusting to 185 kph.
The local government in Gujarat has evacuated 150,000 people from low-lying coastal areas.
According to the IMD, massive damage, including destruction of thatched houses is expected. Officials warned of flying objects, damage to power and communication lines, flooding of roads, as well as, minor disruption to railway lines and signaling systems.
Reports said, Mumbai experienced light rainfall and gusty winds early today, and the airport has been closed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.
The city’s Bandra-Worli Sea Link, a bridge that links Bandra in the western suburbs of Mumbai and Worli in south Mumbai, has been closed.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) yesterday deployed two C-130J and one An-32 aircraft, for transportation of 167 personnel and 16.5 tonnes of load of NDRF from Kolkata to Ahmedabad.
So far six people have been killed in rain-related incidents, due to cyclone Tauktae.– NNN-PTI
