IMD: Cyclonic storm Tauktae likely to intensify during next 24 hrs

A very severe cyclonic storm Tauktae is likely to intensify during next 24 hours and likely to cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district in the early morning on Tuesday.

According to morning bulletin of IMD, a very severe cyclonic storm Tauktae over east central Arabian sea moved nearly northwards and lay centered over east central Arabian Sea about 130 kilometers of west- south-west of Panjim Goa and 450 kilometers south of Mumbai this morning.

It is very likely to intensify during next 24 hours and move north and north westwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of Monday.

It is likely to cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district during the early morning on Tuesday.

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.

Fishermen have been advised to return to the coast and not to venture the sea till 18th May.

Sources from Ahmedabad reports that the Gujarat government has geared up the state administration to minimize the impact of very severe cyclonic storm Tauktae.

24 teams of NDRF have been deployed in the coastal areas of Saurashtra, while additional teams have been called as a standby. Apart from these, the 6 teams of State Disaster Relief Force along with BSF, police and fire brigade have been asked to remain .

District administrations have been asked to take action with zero casualty approach.

All public and private Covid hospitals have been asked to keep wind-proof windows, doors, glass and temporary structures so that they are not damaged due to heavy winds.

Steps have been taken to maintain electricity supply in all Covid hospitals with additional support of Diesel Generators.

Fishermen in the mid-sea are being ed to return to the coast by the coast guard helicopters. State Ministers have been sent to the coastal districts to monitor the arrangements for rescue and relief works.