Cyclone Tauktae wreaks havoc in Mumbai, Navy on rescue to Bombay High
By IANS |
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Cyclone Tauktae wreaks havoc in Mumbai, Navy on rescue to Bombay High. Image Source: IANS News
Mumbai, May 17 : Cyclone Tauktae hit Mumbai with full fury bringing heavy rains, strong gales of over 75-85 kmph, which wreaked havoc by uprooting scores of trees, damaged some homes, and disrupted road traffic, though there were no human casualties, officials said on Monday.
In an alarming development, the Indian Navy has despatched two ships to rescue around 273 personnel of the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) who are stranded on a drifting barge near the Bombay High Fields, around 175 km off Mumbai, in the direct path of the cyclone whirling towards Gujarat in the choppy Arabian Sea.
India braces for powerful cyclone amid deadly virus surge
This Sunday, May 16, 2021, photograph provided by India s Defense Ministry shows an Indian Air Force plane preparing to transport National Disaster Response Force personnel and material to western Gujarat state in preparation of Cyclone Tauktae from Kolkata, India. A severe cyclone is roaring in the Arabian Sea off southwestern India with winds of up to 140 kph (87 mph), already causing heavy rains and flooding that have killed multiple people, officials said Sunday. Cyclone Tauktae, the seasonâs first major storm, is expected to make landfall early Tuesday in Gujarat state, a statement by the India Meteorological Department said. (India s Defense Ministry via AP)
NEW DELHI A powerful cyclone roaring in the Arabian Sea was moving toward India s western coast on Monday as authorities tried to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people and suspended COVID-19 vaccinations in one state. Cyclone Tauktae, which has already killed six people in parts of southern India, was expected to make landfall on Monday evening in Gujarat state with winds of up to 175 kilometres per hour, the India Meteorological Department said. Forecasters warned of possible extensive damage from high winds, heavy rainfall and flooding in low-lying areas. The massive storm comes as India is battling with a devastating coronavirus surge and both the storm and the virus could exacerbate the effects of the other. The storm has already led to the suspension of some vaccination efforts and there is greater risk of virus transmission in crowded evacuation shelters.
Flights seen stalled as Mumbai airport was closed due to cyclone Tauktae on Monday.(TOI photo)
MUMBAI: The Mumbai airport has now announced that no flight operations will be carried out till8 pm. Early in the day, the airport had announced a temporary suspension of all flight operations from 11 am to 2 pm and then later extended the timing to 5 pm.
Cyclone Tauktae is currently routing north of Mumbai, off the western coast of Maharashtra.
About 200 flights depart and arrive in Mumbai airport in 24 hours, with majority of them being domestic operations. The airport closure would hit about 60 % of flights, said a source. Airlines have cancelled a number of flights, while others will be rescheduled.