Cyclone Tauktae is expected to cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva in the next 24 hours. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy to very heavy falls are very likely over Saurashtra and Kutch, Diu and south Gujarat region on Monday.
Gale wind speed reaching 100-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph will prevail over Bharuch, Anand, south Ahmedabad, Botad, and Surendranagar, and 90-100 kmph gusting to 120 kmph over Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Morbi districts from early hours of Tuesday.
The cyclone has intensified in the past few hours, and heavy to very heavy falls are also expected at south Rajasthan on Tuesday and Wednesday.
According to the IMD forecast, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds at the speed reaching 40-50 KMPH are very likely at isolated places in western Madhya Pradesh in the next two days beginning Monday.
While the Met department has predicted extremely heavy rainfall in Raigad on Monday, it said Mumbai is not in the direct line of the threat of the cyclone. The city will, however, witness strong winds and rain.
NDRF, SDRF teams in Gujarat
An estimated 1.5 lakh people are being shifted from low-lying coastal areas in Gujarat while 54 teams of the NDRF and SDRF, apart from teams of the fire brigade, police, and coast guard remained deployed along the south Gujarat and Saurashtra coast.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the Armed Forces will also assist in relief and rescue operations if required.
Hospitals treating COVID-19 patients have been asked to ensure power back-up. "Arrangements have also been made to ensure uninterrupted generation of medical oxygen in the eight manufacturing units and buffer stock is also created," the CM said.
On Wednesday, isolated places in some districts in north Gujarat will also receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, as per the IMD.
Amit Shah reviews preparedness
Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the preparedness for Cyclone Tauktae in Gujarat, Maharashtra and two Union territories and "specifically" stressed that all health facilities, including those for COVID-19 treatment, falling in the affected areas should be secured along with the patients.
At a video-conference with the chief ministers of Gujarat and Maharashtra and the administrators of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Shah also advised them to ensure adequate stocks of all essential medicines and supplies in the hospitals, keeping in view a likely disruption in the movement of vehicles.
The home minister informed the chief ministers and the administrators that a 24x7 control room is functioning in the ministry of home affairs (MHA), which "can be contacted at any time for any assistance by the states".
Two killed in Goa
Two persons died in Goa on Sunday in separate incidents caused due to gusty winds triggered by the cyclone. The major impact of the cyclonic winds was felt in Bardez taluka in North Goa district and Mormugao in South Goa.
"Two persons died in the state due to cyclonic winds on Sunday. One of them is a girl in North Goa, who had gone to fetch water from a well. She died after getting crushed under a tree that fell due to strong winds," Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.
—With inputs from PTI
