Cyclonic stormTauktae likely to intensify

India Meteorological Department, IMD has said that  Cyclonic storm Tauktae is very likely to intensify during next 24 hours. It is likely to move north-north-westwards and reach Gujarat coast by Monday evening and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Tuesday early morning. Met office has warned of widespread rain with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Gujarat with a wind speed of 145 to 155 kilometer per hour gusting to 179 kilometer per hour from Monday morning.The Gujarat government has geared up the state administration to minimize the impact of the cyclonic storm.

Ministry of Earth Sciences said, due to the cyclone, light to moderate rainfall will occur in Kerala, Karnataka, Konkan and Goa, Gujarat and Rajasthan.IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into eastcentral Arabian Sea along and off Karnataka coast till monday morning and into east central Arabian Sea and along and off Maharashtra-Goa coasts and into northeast Arabian Sea along and off Gujarat coast till Tuesday. It said, those who are out at Sea over north Arabian Sea are advised to return to the coast.

In Goa, two people have died so far due to Cyclone Tauktae. According to chief minister Pramod Sawant more than 100 houses have been damaged badly and another 100 have received minor damage. Over 500 trees have fallen down. At present, most of Goa does not have electricity and many roads are blocked. The CM said it will take two days to restore things. Heavy rains and high winds are expected to continue in the state till May 17. The IMD has said there is likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Mumbai on Monday. An orange alert has been issued for Mumbai and red alert for Raigad district in Maharashtra.

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Tauktae
Latest centre position based on Doppler Weather Radar Goa - 16.6N 72.6E at 1630IST
490km south-southeast of Diu pic.twitter.com/tDevwRa0BQ

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 16, 2021

Home Minister Amit Shah also chaired a review meeting with the Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Administrators of Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli, to assess their preparedness. Meanwhile in Karnataka, at least four people have died, and 73 villages across six districts in Karnataka have been affected, because of Cyclone Tauktae.