Tauktae intensifies into ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm; 4 killed in Karnataka

Cyclonic storm Tauktae has intensified into a “very severe" cyclonic storm, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday morning. Cyclone Tauktae is likely to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) around early morning on May 18.

The storm lay centered about 150 km southwest of Panjim-Goa, 490 km south of Mumbai, and 730 km south-southwest of Veraval (Gujarat).

The cyclone has hit coastal parts of Goa and visuals from Panaji show damage caused by the heavy wind and rain in the state. Huge trees and branches have fallen in the middle of the road, completely blocking the way. Damage to private properties is also being reported with huge trees breaking the compound wall and falling on parked cars.

Electricity supply has been affected at Goa medical college due to the impact of cyclone Tauktae. The wards treating Covid-19 patients at GMC are currently working with backup power supply. Due to the storm, several trees have been uprooted in the area, affecting 33KV lines.

According to IMD, the cyclone moved nearly northwards with a speed of about 11 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 5.30 a.m. on Sunday over east central Arabian Sea near latitude 15.0 degree North and longitude 72.7 degree East, about 130 km west-southwest of Panjim-Goa, 450 km south of Mumbai, 700 km south-southeast of Veraval (Gujarat) and 840 km southeast of Karachi (Pakistan).

The IMD has also issued a yellow alert for the coasts of Gujarat and Diu and Daman.

According to the Karnataka State Disaster Managagement Authority (KSDMA), four people have lost their lives and 73 villages have been affected by cyclone Tauktae. The storm has resulted in heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over 6 districts, 3 coastal districts and 3 Malnad districts of Karnataka in the past 24 hours.

“Districts near the Konkan coast have been warned for cyclone. The CM has taken stock of the matter. I've informed him about the rehabilitation work. We have given instructions to prepare large shelters in these areas,” Maharashtra Relief & Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar was quoted as saying.

Officials are also contemplating a possible shut down of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link as a precautionary measure because of IMD's announcement that the cyclone may pass close to the city on Sunday. The BMC had on Friday alerted city hospitals to avoid last-minute confusion over beds and availability of oxygen devices.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation shifted 580 patients from Covid care centres in the city as a precautionary measure after India Meteorological Department warned that Cyclone Tauktae is likely to pass close to the city, a BMC official said on Sunday. The BMC on Saturday night shifted 580 patients from BKC (243), Dahisar (183) and Mulund (154) jumbo Covid care facilities to state and civic-run hospitals in Mumbai, the official said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has appealed to his party workers to provide all assistance as the cyclone intensifies.

According to the Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD, by May 18, the wind speed is expected to increase to 150-160 kilometres per hour, gusting up to 175 kmph.

The IMD said wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph is likely along and off south Maharashtra-Goa and adjoining Karnataka coasts, and 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph along and off the north Maharashtra coast on May 16. It is likely to increase to 65-75 kmph, gusting to 85 kmph along and off the north Maharashtra coast from May 17 till the morning of May 18.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely over the northeast Arabian Sea and along and off south Gujarat and Daman and Diu coasts from morning May 16.

It will gradually increase, becoming gale with speed reaching 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph over the northeast Arabian Sea and along and off Gujarat coast (Porbandar, Junagarh, Gir Somnath, Amreli) and 120-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph over Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar districts of Gujarat from the early hours of May 18.

Winds with speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph are likely to prevail along and off Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman, Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, southern parts of Ahmedabad and Anand districts from the midnight of May 17 and till the morning of May 18.

A nearly 3-metre-high tidal wave is expected in Junagarh, 1-2.5 metres above astronomical tide is likely to inundate coastal areas of Diu, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Anand, Surat and about 0.5-1 metres over Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Kutch and the remaining coastal districts of Gujarat during the time of landfall, the IMD said.

According to the weather department, in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district, total destruction of thatched houses, extensive damage to kutcha houses and some damage to pucca houses is expected. There could be a potential threat from flying objects with bending or uprooting of power and communication poles.

Major damage to kutcha and pucca roads, flooding of escape routes, minor disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems is expected, the IMD said.

Ratnagiri Collector Lakshminarayan Mishra appealed to people to stay indoors, and added that curfew has been imposed. "Those in kutcha houses should move to shelter homes and others should stay indoors. Winds with a speed of 60-90 kmph is expected," he said.

"Tidal wave of about 2-3 metres above astronomical tide is likely to inundate coastal areas of Morbi, Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamnagar district, and 1-2 metres along Porbandar, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and 0.5-1 metre over the remaining coastal districts of Gujarat," a Home Ministry advisory said. It advised total suspension of fishing operations over the northwest Arabian sea and along and off the Gujarat coast on May 17 and 18.

The Indian Air Force on Saturday had said that it had kept 16 transport aircraft and 18 helicopters in readiness in peninsular India as part of preparations to deal with the situation that could arise out of Cyclone Tauktae. The IAF has also decided to focus on COVID relief operations in the coastal areas in the next few days as bad weather is likely to affect air operations later, it said.

In Gujarat, light to moderate rainfall at many places is very likely to commence including over coastal districts of Saurashtra from Sunday afternoon, with heavy to very heavy rainfalls at isolated places over Saurashtra and Kutch and Diu and extremely heavy falls at isolated places on May 17 and with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places over Saurashtra and Kutch and Diu with extremely heavy falls at isolated places on May 18.

Light to moderate rainfall at many places in Rajasthan with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places very likely over south region of the state on May 18 and over across the state on May 19 is likely.

(With agency inputs)