Cyclone Biparjoy: Three of the five people who went missing in the sea at Juhu Beach in Mumbai yesterday have died, reported ANI. One was rescued as high tidal waves lashed the city under the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy while one is still missing. Earlier the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said, four boys are feared drowned at Juhu Beach in Mumbai, while one was rescued by the locals. The incident occurred at Juhu Koliwada when a group of five boys, in the age group of 12 to 15 years, ventured into the sea around 5.30 pm.
"One of the boys was rescued by a fisherman before the fire brigade arrived at the scene, while four others are still missing and a search operation is underway for them," PTI quoted a BMC official as saying. A rescue operation has been launched to trace the other four.
The Indian Navy has deployed a Seaking helicopter for the search and rescue operation. Diving teams are on standby but are not being deployed due to adverse sea conditions, the Navy said.
The cyclone is moving directly parallel to Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, and its impact is likely to be seen in many parts of Maharashtra.
Mumbai witnessed some incidents of tree falls due to high velocity of winds since Sunday night. The coastal city is likely to witness stronger gusts and isolated rains for the next one or two days.
In view of the cyclone, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed two additional teams in Mumbai as a precautionary measure, taking the total to five, PTI reported. The NDRF has also moved four teams to Gujarat.
The IMD said cyclone 'Biparjoy' was likely to make landfall near Jakhau port in Gujarat's Kutch district on Thursday as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' with maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 kilometres per hour.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and Thane and an orange alert for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts of Gujarat.
"The cyclone is likely to make landfall near the Jakhau port. It will hit Gujarat coast around noon on June 15. It will be preceded by winds with speeds of 135-145 kmph gusting to 150 kmph and extremely heavy rainfall," PTI quoted IMD official Manorama Mohanty as saying.
Around 7,500 people have been shifted to safer places in Gujarat and fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea till June 16.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired a high-level meeting on Monday and directed officials to ensure safe evacuation of people living in vulnerable locations in the path of the cyclone.