Cyclone Tauktae Intensifying, Moving Towards Gujarat; PM Reviews Preparedness | All You Need To Know

New Delhi: Cyclonic storm Tauktae has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over east central Arabian sea, about 220 km sudden stratospheric warming of Panjim-Goa and 590 km sudden stratospheric warming of Mumbai, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday evening.

The IMD said it is likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya around May 18.

“The CS “Tauktae” intensified into a SCS, lay centred at 1730 IST of 15th May over eastcentral Arabian Sea, about 220 km SSW of Panjim-Goa, 590 km SSW of Mumbai. Likely to intensify further into a VSCS  & cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Naliya around 18th May A/N /Evening,” the IMD posted on its official Twitter handle.

The IMD said thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain with wind speed of 20 to 40 km/ph would occur over isolated places of north-east Delhi, Narwana, Assaund, Rajound, Gannaur, Sonipat, Karnal, Panipat, Safidon,Jind, Hansi (Haryana), Shamli, Deoband and Kandhala.

The fishermen have been advised not to venture in the sea in view of the cyclone.

“Fishermen are advised not to venture into Southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep – Maldives areas, East central Arabian Sea along & off Karnataka coast, Eastcentral Arabian Sea and along & off Maharashtra – Goa coasts and into Eastcentral& adjoining Northeast Arabian Sea,” the IMD tweeted.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)  is assisting the state agencies in their preparedness for evacuating the people from the vulnerable locations besides continuously holding community awareness campaign on how to deal with the cyclonic situation.

The NDRF has pre-positioned 42 teams, which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipments etc. in six states and has kept 26 teams on standby.

The Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. Air Force and Engineer task force units of Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment.

Besides, seven ships with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief units are on standby along western coast. Surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out serial surveillance along the western coast. Tj Disaster Relief teams (DRTs) and Medical Teams (MTs) are standby at Trivandrum, Kannur and other locations along western coast with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs reviewing the situation 24*7 and is in touch with the state governments/ UTs and the central agencies concerned.

The Ministry of Power has activated emergency response systems and is keeping in readiness transformers, DG sets and equipments etc. for immediate restoration of electricity.

The Ministry of Telecom is keeping all the telecom towers and exchanges under constant watch and is fully geared to restore telecom network.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued advisory to the states/ UTs, likely to be affected, for health sector preparedness and response on Covid in the affected areas. They have also kept ready 10 quick response medical teams and five Public health response teams, with emergency medicines.

The Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways has taken measures to secure all shipping vessels and has deployed emergency vessels (Tugs).

The Western Railway has said that many trains will be cancelled/short terminated due to the cyclone warning in coastal Gujarat region on May 17 and May 18.

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Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting to review the preparedness to deal with the situation arising out of Cyclone ‘Tauktae’ and directed the senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated by the state governments.

He also directed the senior officers to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health, drinking water etc. are restored immediately in the event of damages caused to them.

Prime Minister Modi directed them to ensure special preparedness on COVID management in hospitals, vaccine cold chain and other medical facilities on power back up and storage of essential medicines and to plan for unhindered movement of oxygen tankers. He also directed for 24*7 functioning of control rooms.

Prime Minister Modi also said that special care needs to be taken to ensure that there is least possible disruption in oxygen supply from Jamnagar. He also spoke about the need to involve the local community for timely sensitisation and relief measures.