(G.N.S) Dt. 3
Mumbai/Porbandar/Dwarka
Maharashtra and Gujarat geared up for Cyclone Nisarga, which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday evening near Alibaug, south of Mumbai.
With the India Meteorological Department declaring a red alert in Mumbai for the first cyclone that has formed near the city on the Arabian Sea in a long time, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in a televised address, advised people to remain indoors.
Raigad district authorities started evacuating residents from coastal areas. Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and India Coast Guard have also been deployed. Alibaug, Uran, Murud and Shrivardhan — all shore-based talukas — are on high alert, while Pen, Panvel Mhasala and Tala, which are creek-based, are on alert.
Cyclone Nisarga is moving along the predicted path and is expected to make landfall between 2 pm and 4:30 pm on Wednesday around Alibaug in Maharashtra, NDRF chief S N Pradhan said.
The Director General (DG) of the federal contingency force said a total of 43 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are deployed in the two states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The evacuation work is nearly complete, he said, adding, precautionary measures are being taken and people in cyclone shelters are being taught life skills with social distancing.
All preparations have been done by central and state agencies and coordination is of a high order, Pradhan said.
“Let us hope we ride through the cyclone and safely negotiate it,” he said.
Traffic movement on Bandra-Worli sea link in Mumbai was suspended on Wednesday in light of cyclone Nisarga.
“In light of #CycloneNisarga, no vehicular movement is permitted on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link,” tweeted Mumbai Police.
Gujarat government has shifted 50,000 people from low lying areas in coastal districts, deployed 15 NDRF and 6 SDRF teams, directed industries in South Gujarat to remain shut as cyclone Nisarga is set to make a landfall in the afternoon.
Gujarat has shifted over 50,000 people from low-lying areas in coastal districts.
According the latest IMD updates, the severe cyclonic storm Nisarga lay centred over east central Arabian sea at 11:30 a.m. It is very close to Raigad district coast, about 80 km south of Alibaug and 110 km south of Mumbai. It is likely to move northeastwards very close to coast and cross Maharashtra coast, close to south of Alibaug during the next three hours as a severe cyclone with a maximum sustained wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120kmph. The landfall will commence in one hour and the process will be completed during next three hours.
