Nearly 150,000 people were moved from their homes in the Indian state ofGujarat to safety on Monday and authorities closed ports and a main airportas the most intense cyclone in more than two decades roared up the westcoast.
Cyclone Tauktae has killed at least 12 people and left a trail ofdestruction as it brushed past the coastal states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goaand Maharashtra, authorities said.
It is set to make landfall in Gujarat late on Monday.
“This will be the most severe cyclone to hit Gujarat in at least 20 years.This can be compared with the 1998 cyclone that hit Kandla and inflictedheavy damage,” state revenue secretary Pankaj Kumar told Reuters.
The cyclone increases pressure on local administrations already strugglingwith a high caseload of COVID-19 infections.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) categorized the storm, whichformed in the Arabian Sea, as an “extremely severe” storm, upgrading itfrom the “very severe” category.
The financial hub of Mumbai was lashed with heavy rain and strong winds asCyclone Tauktae headed north. Strong winds forced authorities to suspendoperations at Mumbai’s airport, and close some main roads.
The cyclone, with sustained surface wind speeds of 180-190 kmph and gustsup to 210 kmph that would put it on par with a Category 3 hurricane, israted one level below the IMD’s super cyclone category.
As well as the 12 deaths reported in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, 28fishing boats were missing, a coastguard official told Reuters.
GUJARAT BRACES
Gujarat’s state administration moved nearly 150,000 people from coastalcommunities and deployed more than 50 disaster response teams.
The Gujarat Maritime Board, the state’s port regulator, directed hoistingof signals VIII to X, indicating great danger, at ports in the state.
India’s largest private port at Mundra suspended operations for the day, anofficial there told Reuters.
Authorities are also concerned about the state’s Asiatic lions, anendangered species found only in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat where thecyclone is expected to inflict maximum damage.
“There are around 40 lions in some patches in coastal Saurashtra, and weare monitoring them. Some lions have already moved to higher grounds. Weare keeping fingers crossed, and praying the lions will be safe,” ShyamalTikadar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Gujarat told Reuters.
The 1998 cyclone that ravaged Gujarat killed at least 4,000 people andcaused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, media reported at thetime.
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani said all measures were being taken todeal with the situation.
“These are special circumstances. The administration is busy with theCOVID-19 challenges, and is now gearing up to deal with the impact of thecyclone,” said Rupani.
Courtesy: Reuters