MUMBAI: A cyclone named ‘Nisarga’ has struck India’s west coast after intensifying on its approach to Mumbai city.
The cyclone began making landfall about 100km south of Mumbai. ‘Nisarga’ has come barely two weeks after Cyclone Amphan struck, devastating parts of Kolkata on the east coast.
Tens of thousands of people along the coast have been moved to higher ground. It is the first major cyclone in decades to threaten the city.
With 20 million people, Mumbai is India’s most populous city and has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The cyclone began making landfall at about 13:00 local time, packing winds of more than 100km/h.
 Nearly 800 people have been evacuated from various villages along the coastal zones of Alibag over the last 24 hours and shifted to two schools converted into cyclone shelters. Alibag, about 95km from Mumbai, is in the path of Cyclone Nisarga and was expected to be the landfall area.
The Indian Meteorological Department in this regard said that the cyclone had intensified into a severe cyclonic storm. They later said the cyclone had speeded up and was moving at around 13km/h.
The Indian government has urged people to secure their homes, prepare an emergency kit, and keep documents and valuables in waterproof containers.
It has already become a top trending topic on Twitter:
#CycloneNisarga at #Alibaug, 90kms south of #Mumbai clicked by a journalist friend.#StaySafe #StayHome #MumbaiCycloneAlert #CycloneNisargaUpdate #Nisargcyclone pic.twitter.com/xEIHMmFgVj
— aanand kharde (@TheSarlashkar) June 3, 2020
This is all scary !
I hope you all are safe .
Stay Strong , Stay Safe ! #Mumbai #CycloneNisarg pic.twitter.com/2I1KutES3i— Mahi Shireen (마히)???????? (@KookieShireen) June 3, 2020
#Mumbai and neighbouring areas braced for #CycloneNisarga as it slammed the coast with wind speeds of up to 120 kmph after thousands of people were evacuated, trains rescheduled, flights cancelled. #CycloneUpdate https://t.co/nDTir2Q3nX
— National Herald (@NH_India) June 3, 2020
Howling wind and rains .. #CycloneNisarga #CycloneUpdate #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/jpAMEL9WuR
— OJAS BALSOTRA (@BalsotraOjas) June 3, 2020
Increase of wind speed in dombivli #CycloneNisarg #CycloneNisargaUpdate #mumbai #dombivli pic.twitter.com/deNljcgeth
— Rakshit Mehta (@iamrakshitmehta) June 3, 2020
