A red alert has been sounded in Mumbai and neighbouring districts as tropical storm Nisarga heads towards the coasts in Maharashtra and Gujarat. This will be the first-ever cyclonic storm in recorded history to hit Mumbai, which is already burdened with the coronavirus pandemic with over 40,000 recorded coronavirus cases so far.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said the current deep depression over Arabian Sea is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm and then a severe cyclonic storm, Cyclone Nisarga, which is expected to make landfall in Maharashtra and Gujarat in the afternoon on Wednesday.
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The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed in vulnerable districts, including Mumbai. Adequate precautions are being taken to safeguard chemical and atomic energy plants located in coastal Palghar and Raigad districts also. The states of Maharashtra and Gujarat are the worst affected due to the still-raging novel coronavirus pandemic. In fact, Maharashtra leads the national tally in both patients and deaths.
Here is all you need to know about Cyclone Nisarga:
1. ALERT SOUNDED: CURRENT POSITION OF STORM
An alert has been sounded in Mumbai city, Mumbai suburban district, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts in view of the cyclonic storm.
As per the IMD, the depression in the Arabian Sea is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone and cross the north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts on Wednesday, and will have an impact on Mumbai. The depression intensified into a deep depression — the third and fourth stage of any cyclone formation — on Monday evening.
As of 11.30 am on Tuesday, the deep depression was moving towards east — towards the coastal areas of Maharashtra and heading straight. The speed of the deep depression moving towards coast was 11 km per hour. It was 450km far away from Mumbai around noon.
Deep Depression to intensify into Cyclonic Storm during next 6 hours. To cross north Maharashtra and adjoining south Gujarat coast between Harihareshwar and Daman, close to Alibag (Raigad District, Maharashtra) during the afternoon of 03rd June. https://t.co/rXRAo26pyF pic.twitter.com/lOJUD8FMFP
— IMD Weather (@IMDWeather) June 2, 2020
2. WHEN AND WHERE WILL BE THE LANDFALL
The storm is expected to cross north Maharashtra and adjoining south Gujarat coast between Harihareshwar (Raigad, Maharashtra) and Daman during the afternoon of June 3. The nearly 260 km patch between Raigad and Daman has one of the highest population densities in the country. Apart from Mumbai, it also has satellites cities like Thane, Navi-Mumbai, Panvel, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar, Ulhasnagar, Badlapur and Ambernath.
When it crosses the coast on the evening of June 3, it will have a speed of 105-110 kmph, the IMD said. Heavy rains are also expected in south Gujarat and coastal Maharashtra
As per the Met department, the eye of the cyclonic storm is expected to pass through Alibag town, south of Mumbai.
3. NDRF TEAMS READY
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed over 20 teams for Cyclone Nisarga. These include 11 in Gujarat, 10 in Maharashtra and two in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Six teams of the NDRF have been kept on stand-by in Maharashtra. Steps are being taken to ensure there is no disruption of power supply at a time when the state is battling the coronavirus crisis and thousands of patients are undergoing treatment.
More NDRF teams were rushed on Tuesday afternoon to Maharashtra: Latest break-up
>> Mumbai 3 teams
>> Raigad 4 teams (2 en route)
>> Palghar 2 teams
>> Thane 2 teams (1 en route)
>> Ratnagiri 2 teams (1 en route)
>> Sindhudurg 1 team
>> Navi Mumbai (1 team en route)
A team of the NDRF comprises about 45 personnel. The NDRF just last month carried out relief and rescue work during Cyclone Amphan which hit while West Bengal and Odisha as it dealt with the threat of the novel coronavirus.
In Mumbai, the Maharashtra Naval Area will be on standby with five flood rescue teams and three diving teams throughout the monsoon season. The area and station commanders are in touch with the state authorities, NDRF and SDRF to be able to respond to a crisis situation.
4. FISHERMEN ASKED TO COME BACK; EVACUATION PLANS MADE
Authorities on Tuesday said 13 boats of fishermen from Palghar are still out in the sea and efforts are being made to get them back to the shore quickly. As many as 577 fishing boats from Palghar had earlier gone out in the sea and till Monday evening, 477 returned. The number of fishermen on these boats was not known. The district administration is taking help of the Coast Guard and officials of the fisheries department to get the remaining boats back.
Preparedness for #NisargaCyclone pic.twitter.com/n9G6WriWQU
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 2, 2020
The Vasai, Dahanu and Palghar talukas, dominated by fisherfolk, have been put on an alert and those living near the coast in ‘kutcha’ houses are being evacuated and lodged in safer places as a precautionary measure. In Thane district, a company of NDRF arrived on Monday and has been stationed at Uttan, where maximum members of the fishermen community live. Maharashtra CM has said non-Covid hospitals have been made available for rescue.
5. CENTRE IN TOUCH WITH STATES
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday took stock of the preparation for Cyclone Nisarga that is likely to hit Maharashtra and Gujarat on Wednesday. “Union Home Minister @AmitShah held review meeting with senior officials of NDMA, NDRF, IMD & Indian Coast Guard on preparedness for dealing with Cyclone brewing in Arabian sea which is expected to hit some parts of Maharashtra & Gujarat. MoS @nityanandraibjp was also present,” Shah’s office tweeted.
In pictures: Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah interacting with Chief Ministers of Gujarat & Maharashtra via video-conferencing to review preparedness amid cyclone build up. He has assured all possible assistance from the central government. pic.twitter.com/nqwE7uMaql
— , HMO India (@HMOIndia) June 1, 2020
