Cyclone Tauktae Highlights: Landfall Process In Gujarat Continues, CM Vijay Rupani Reviews Situation
Cyclone Tauktae LIVE: Cyclone Tauktae has intensified into a severe storm and is charged towards Gujarat now. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to occur in coastal areas of Gujarat on May 17 & May 18. Extremely heavy rainfall is also expected at some places. At the time of landfall, winds speed is expected to be 155-165 kmph gusting to 145 kmph, as informed by IMD.
Background
Cyclone Tauktae Highlights: With gale winds and heavy rainfall, cyclone Tauktae is approaching Gujarat and is expected to intensify into 'very severe storm' on May 18. In Gujarat, around 1.5 lakh people were being shifted from low-lying coastal areas to safe locations. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has asked officials to ensure that electricity supply to COVID-19 hospitals and other medical facilities are not disrupted
In Maharashtra, coastal areas are on high alert. Covid patients undergoing treatment at dedicated facilities in coastal areas were relocated to safer facilities. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office tweeted that the government would ensure uninterrupted power and oxygen in hospitals. Police and other officials have been deployed to deal with the cyclone. "Patients will not face gaps in the treatment," it said.
The cyclone, which is the first this year, has added to the woes of the states which are already grappling with the devastating second wave of COVID. The Centre has given a slew of directions to the states to ensure that the health facilities do not suffer and medical supplies are maintained. With the cyclone intensifying, the wind speed along and off Gujarat coasts in Porbandar, Junagadh, Gir Somnath and Amreli districts will reach 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph by Tuesday morning.
The sea conditions will become "very rough to high" along and off the south Gujarat coast from Monday morning, and "very high to phenomenal" from Monday midnight. A tidal wave of about 3 metres, 1-2.5 metres above the astronomical tide, is likely to inundate several coastal areas of the state during the time of the landfall, it said.
Cyclone Tauktae LIVE: Rescue Work In Goa & Mumbai
Indian Coast Guard Ship Samarth rescued 15 fishermen off the Goa coast and towed the boat Milad to safety. Another Coast Guard Ship Samrat sailed out from Mumbai to attend to a distress call from a vessel off Mumbai with 137 personnel on board.
Two more Indian Coast Guard Ships at sea have been diverted and directed to rush to Bombay High off Heera oil fields for rescue operations of the stranded crew onboard P-305.
Cyclone Tauktae LIVE: Landfall process will continue for next 2 hrs
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