CYCLONE - Central News Hub

“In Bardez, the worst-affected sub-district in North Goa, 31 houses were damaged while in South Goa, Mormugao was the worst affected sub-district where 36 houses were damaged,” Sawant said…reports Asian Lite News.

Stormy winds and heavy rains caused by Cyclone Tauktae claimed two lives and uprooted more than 1,000 trees in Goa, disrupting normal life and road traffic and causing power outage in most parts of the coastal state on Sunday.

“Two people lost their lives because of the cyclone. A woman of around 30-35 years died after a coconut tree fell on her at Mapusa town (in North Goa). Another accident occurred at Marcel where two youth were going on a scooter and an electric pole fell on them and one of them lost his life while he was being rushed to hospital,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told a press conference.

He said that all roads faced blockages due to debris and uprooted trees.

“In Bardez, the worst-affected sub-district in North Goa, 31 houses were damaged while in South Goa, Mormugao was the worst affected sub-district where 36 houses were damaged,” Sawant said.

Goa (IANS)

Power Minister Nilesh Cabral said that feeder electrical lines from other states have been damaged in the state, which has resulted in a severe power outage.

“We are still in the process of assessing the damage caused to electricity poles which have been uprooted across Goa,” he said.

Konkan Railway said that rail traffic was affected by the cyclonic winds and rain with uprooted trees blocking the railway track in at least five places in the state.

“No injuries or casualties have been reported. The traffic on the Konkan Railway route is running smoothly,” it said in a statement.

The Goa branch of the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted that the severe cyclonic storm will last till May 17 with wind speeds in the range of 100 to 175 km per hour.

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Mumbai braces for Cyclone Tauktae

Weather system wreaks havoc in coastal Kerala and Karnataka set to hit Gujarat on Monday, reports Asian Lite News.

The severe cyclonic storm Tauktae over east central Arabian Sea is likely to intensify further in the next 24 hours.

The cyclone is likely to move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of Monday and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) around Tuesday early morning, said the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Tauktae moved nearly northwards with a speed of about 11 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 5.30 a.m. on Sunday over east central Arabian Sea near latitude 15.0 degree North and longitude 72.7 degree East, about 130 km west-southwest of Panjim-Goa, 450 km south of Mumbai, 700 km south-southeast of Veraval (Gujarat) and 840 km southeast of Karachi (Pakistan).

In Kerala, light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places on Sunday and heavy falls at isolated places on May 17 is likely to take place.

The IMD forecast mentions light to moderate rainfall at most places in Karnataka (coastal and adjoining Ghat districts) with heavy to very heavy rainfalls at isolated places later in the day on Sunday.

There is possibility of light to moderate rainfall at most places in Konkan and Goa with heavy to very heavy rainfalls at a few places adjoining Ghat areas on Sunday and heavy falls at isolated places on Monday over north Konkan.

In Gujarat, light to moderate rainfall at many places is very likely to commence including over coastal districts of Saurashtra from Sunday afternoon, with heavy to very heavy rainfalls at isolated places over Saurashtra and Kutch and Diu and extremely heavy falls at isolated places on May 17 and with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places over Saurashtra and Kutch and Diu with extremely heavy falls at isolated places on May 18.

Modi reviews situation

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of states and central ministries concerned to deal with the situation arising out of Cyclone Tauktae.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is assisting the State agencies in their preparedness for evacuating people from vulnerable locations.

Cyclone (IANS)

Mumbai transfers patients from jumbo centres

Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai transferred 580 Covid patients from jumbo centres to other hospitals in safe places as a precautionary measure.

The Mumbai Police is also exploring the option of shutting down the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, as heavy rain and strong winds are expected to lash the city on Sunday and Monday. “Depending on the situation, following updates from the IMD, the decision to close traffic on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on Sunday will be taken,” said a police officer. The suburban rail services will run on Sunday and Monday, said officials.

In a review meeting on Saturday morning, the IMD informed BMC that Mumbai is not in the direct line of the threat of the cyclone. However, as it will pass through the sea near the Mumbai coast, its effect is likely to be accompanied by rain and strong winds.

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