Even as Gujarat heaved a sigh of relief with the number of COVID-19 cases witnessing a continuous dip, Cyclone Tauktae made a landfall in Wanakbara in Diu on Monday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction in Somnath, Veraval, Una, Kodinar and nearby areas.
According to the meteorology department, the effect of the cyclonic storm is expected to remain for more than three hours.
As a precautionary measure, airports in Ahmedabad and Surat have suspended operations till Tuesday. Rajkot airport will, however, continue to function.
Heavy rains battered several cities in Saurashtra region, including Ahmedabad. Electricity went off in several parts of the region as winds have been blowing at a speed of nearly 100 kilometers per hour. The wind speed is expected to increase up to 175 kilometer per hour.
The landfall process of the cyclonic storm is expected to continue for about three hours.
More than two lakh people have been evacuated from places that fall in the line of Tauktae’s route.
While 54 NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in Gujarat, complaints were reported from Surat and Bharuch areas that the deployment was not adequate.
Sources said that the extend of damage caused by Tauktae would be known only by Tuesday. However, it is already clear that those having mango orchards have suffered heavy losses. Mangoes from Saurashtra region, especially Gir, are famous both nationally and internationally.
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases in Gujarat showed a decent decline for the last several days. In the last 24 hours that ended at 5 pm on Monday, a total of 7,135 new cases were reported.
After several days, the number of active cases in the state has gone down below one lakh. A total of 81 persons lost their lives in the last 24 hours.
The government has created Green Corridors in the state for the movement of oxygen. Like several other states, Gujarat had also reported shortage in oxygen supply.