MUMBAI: Cyclone Tauktae has weakened from an extremely severe cyclonic storm to a very severe cyclonic storm early this morning, following landfall over Gujarat coast, India’s Metrological Department said on Tuesday.
As the Indian Navy continues to carry out rescue operations along the Western coast, the IMD said, “The VSCS ‘TAUKTAE’ lay centred at 0430 HRS IST over SAURASHTRA. The cyclone continues to show a weakening trend. Eye is disorganising, wall cloud is weakening.”
The cyclone, at its peak, has made landfall in the India’s state of Gujarat with wind speeds of up to 160km/h (100mph). Cyclone Tauktae travelled along India’s western coast, narrowly missing the city of Mumbai.
At least 12 people were killed and 150,000 evacuated. Meanwhile, the Indian navy has sent three warships to try to rescue hundreds of people stranded off the coast in two barges.
Following the effects of the cyclone, many parts of Northern India including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan will witness rainfall today (Tuesday). Squally winds are likely to prevail over south Rajasthan in association with the presence of the remnant system as a depression over the region.
Patients from a COVID-19 care centre in Gujarat’s Vadodara were shifted to hospitals, yesterday. Nodal Officer Sheetal Mistry said, “In view of IMD’s warning for Cyclone Tauktae, we are shifting Covid-19 patients from various facilities to hospitals.”
Also, the road between Gujarat’s Somnath district and the Union Territory of Diu (Daman & Diu) which was blocked due to fallen trees, has been cleared by the Army personnel for movement of vehicles.
Tauktae is the strongest cyclone to strike the region since 1998 and both Gujarat and neighbouring Maharashtra – home to the city of Mumbai – have been on high alert.
