Aircraft C-130J of Indian Air Force prepares to carry National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel from Vijayawada of India's Andhra Pradesh state to Ahmedabad of India's Gujarat state for the preparation for Cyclone Tauktae, May 17, 2021. Cyclonic storm Tauktae Monday intensified into an extremely severe storm and is likely to hit India's Gujarat coast by the evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. (UNI via Xinhua)
NEW DELHI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Cyclonic storm Tauktae Monday intensified into an extremely severe storm and is likely to hit India's Gujarat coast by the evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Tauktae intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm and lay centered at 5:30 a.m. local time on Monday over east-central Arabian Sea, about 160 km west-southwest of Mumbai, the federal ministry of earth science quoting the IMD said.
It said the cyclone is very likely to reach Gujarat coast in the evening and cross the area between Porbandar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district during the night as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.
The local government in Gujarat has evacuated 150,000 people from low-lying coastal areas.
According to the IMD, massive damage including destruction of thatched houses is expected. Officials have warned of flying objects, damage to power and communication lines, flooding of roads as well as minor disruption to railway lines and signaling systems.
Reports said Mumbai experienced light rainfall and gusty winds early Monday, and the airport has been closed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.
The city's Bandra-Worli Sea Link, a bridge that links Bandra in the western suburbs of Mumbai and Worli in south Mumbai, has been closed.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday deployed two C-130J and one An-32 aircraft for transportation of 167 personnel and 16.5 tonnes of load of NDRF from Kolkata to Ahmedabad.
So far six people have been killed in rain-related incidents due to cyclone Tauktae. Enditem
