Cyclone Nisarga Likely To Turn Into 'Severe Cyclonic Storm' In Next 24 Hours, Maharashtra, Gujarat On Red Alert

According to IMD, Mumbai city may experience high-speed winds and extremely heavy rainfall. IMD has also issued a red alert for 6 other districts in Maharashtra.

Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Nisarga, a developing tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea is moving northwards at a speed of four kilometers per hour and is currently 550 kilometers away from Mumbai. It is very likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm during the next 12 hours & further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the subsequent 12 hours, the IMD has said in its latest update. Nisarga, a possible severe cyclonic storm that is expected to result from a depression forming in the southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep area will impact Mumbai city which may experience high-speed winds and extremely heavy rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday as it issued a red alert for six other districts including Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Dhule, Nandurbar, and Nashik between June 3 and 4. The coastal areas in Mumbai are likely to receive very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on June 3, while the city might receive rainfall today. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea for the next 3-4 days. According to the cyclone tracker, the deep depression is currently 550-kilometer south-southwest of Mumbai in Maharashtra and 800 km south-southwest of Surat in Gujarat. The depression is likely to move northwards till June 2 morning. IMD has also said, if Nisarga becomes a severe cyclonic storm it is likely to have a wind speed of  105-115 kmph, gusting to 125 kilometers per hour on June 3 but it again will weaken into a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 60-70, gusting to 80 kilometers per hour on June 4. SN Pradhan, Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has said that NDRF teams have been deployed in Maharashtra in view of impending severe cyclone. The weather department has also predicted that the National capital and some areas of Uttar Pradesh are likely to receive rainfall with thunderstorms on Tuesday. Also watch| Cyclone Nisarga to hit on June 3; Maharashtra, Gujarat on red alert