Cyclone Tauktae highlights: Western Railway cancels 56 trains till May 21 in view of cyclone

The Meteorological Department has warned that Cyclone Tauktae, forming over the Arabian Sea is very likely to intensify into 'very severe cyclonic storm'. The cyclone, which will hit the Karnataka coast on Saturday, is likely to bring strong winds and rainfall to Mumbai on May 15 and 16 and would reach near the Gujarat coast on the morning of May 18.

Cyclone Tauktae: IAF keeps 16 transport aircraft, 18 choppers on standby

The Indian Air Force on Saturday said it has kept 16 transport aircraft and 18 helicopters in readiness in peninsular India as part of preparations to deal with the situation that could arise out of cyclone Tauktae.

The IAF has also decided to focus on Covid relief operations in the coastal areas in the next few days as bad weather is likely to affect air operations later, it said.

"The IAF has kept 16 transport aircraft and 18 helicopters on op readiness in peninsular India in preparation for the Cyclone Tauktae which is expected to cause very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall along the western coast of India in the next few days," the IAF said in a statement. - PTI

Fishermen anchored their boats at Versova beach in Mumbai due to formation of Cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea, in Mumbai. Credit: PTI Photo

Make sure Tauktae doesn't affect Covid operations: PM

Special effort should be taken to ensure that Covid-19 management in hospitals, cold chain for vaccine and storage of essential medicines are not impacted by cyclone Tauktae, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a high-level meeting on Saturday.

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JNPT suspends inward shipping movement amid cyclone threat

The country's premier container port JNPT on Saturday said it has planned to sail out all the vessels at berth by 23.00 pm on May 15 while all inward shipping movements will remain suspended till easing of weather conditions as part of various mitigating following a cyclone warning.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, in a release, also said it has opened a control room for three days, starting May 15. - PTI

Banana plantation destroyed due to strong winds and rainfall owing to Cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea, in Alappuzha. Credit: PTI Photo

Torrential rains batter Kerala

Torrential rains accompanied by fierce winds and high tidal waves wreaked havoc and claimed two lives in Kerala, as it lashed the state since last night forcing the government to shift hundreds of families to relief camps,sources said on Saturday.

The southernmost district,Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod in the northern tip, witnessed widespread uprooting of trees, water-logging and disruption of power supply since last night. - PTI

Cyclone to reach Karnataka coast tonight, prepared to tackle situation: Ministers

CycloneTauktae will reach the Karnataka's three coastal districts by Saturday night and the administration is prepared to tackle the situation and to carry out relief and rescue operations, two senior Karnataka Ministers said. (PTI)

Huge wave turbulence due to the cyclone in the Arabian, at a seashore in Kanyakumari. Credit: PTI Photo

Cyclone Tauktae has intensified, very likely to intensify further into 'very severe cyclonic storm': IMD - PTI

PM Narendra Modi reviews preparedness on cyclone Tauktae, asks officials to take all measures to ensure people are safely evacuated

Ensure maintenance of essential services like power, telecommunications, health, drinking water: PM at cyclone Tauktae review meeting - PTI

Cyclone Tauktae has intensified, moving towards Gujarat: IMD

Cyclonic storm Tauktae has intensified and is heading towards the coast of Gujarat and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, though it could bring gusty winds and showers to Mumbai, the IMD said on Saturday.

The cyclonic storm is very likely to intensify further into a "very severe cyclonic storm" by late Saturday night, the India Meteorological Department said, adding it was very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya around May 18. - PTI

The operation of scheduled flights at Agatti Airport in Lakshadweep suspended due to heavy rain till May 16. Civil Aviation Ministry says, Airports are taking all precautions in view of Cyclone Tauktae approaching Western Coast

AAI takes stock of preparedness of coastal airports in Western and Southern regions for Cyclone Tauktae

Maharashtra: 97 fishing boats yet to return to seashore in Palghar

At least 97 fishing boats are yet to return to the seashore in Palghar district of Maharashtra which is likely to bear the brunt of cyclone Tauktae along with other coastal districts when it will cross the coasts, the administration said on Saturday.

District collectors of Thane and Palghar have asked the citizens, especially those living near the seashores, to be alert during the next few days.

Thane collector Rajesh Narvekar and his Palghar counterpart Manik Gursal have issued guidelines for citizens in case of any eventuality. - PTI

Gujarat is fully prepared. We are working with the idea that there shouldn't be any casualty: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on state's preparations to deal with Cyclone Tauktae - PTI

Gujarat braces for cyclone Tauktae as damage feared in some regions

In view of IMD's warning about Cyclone Tauktae, Gujarat has geared up adequately to ensure there is no casualty and set up a control room, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Saturday even as a Central advisory predicted damage to thatched houses, roads, power and communication lines in the districts of the Saurashtra region.

As per the India Meteorological Department, the cyclone is likely to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya on May 18 afternoon or evening as a "very severe cyclonic storm" bringing isolated extremely heavy rainfall with the wind speed reaching 175 kmph along Saurashtra and Kutch coasts.

Rupani said teams of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) will be deployed. - PTI

Fishing boats anchored at Badhwar park jetty due to formation of Cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea in Mumbai. Credit: PTI Photo

NDRF doubles number of relief teams to 100 for Cyclone Tauktae

The National Disaster Response Force has increased from 53 to 100 the number of teams earmarked to undertake relief and rescue measures in the wake of impending Cyclone Tauktae, a senior officer said on Saturday.

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Heavy rain alert in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Raigad, Palghar, Thane and Mumbai: IMD

Cyclone 'Tauktae': NDRF doubles number of teams to 100

The National Disaster Response Force has increased from 53 to 100 the number of teams earmarked to undertake relief and rescue measures in the wake of impending Cyclone Tauktae, a senior officer said on Saturday.

The force's Director General, S N Pradhan, said in a tweet that these teams are being mobilised for deployment in the coastal regions of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra.

On Friday, he had said that 53 teams are being committed for the cyclonic storm that is developing in the Arabian sea. - PTI

Rough sea weather conditions near Someshwara Temple due to formation of Cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea, in Mangaluru. Credit: PTI Photo

Depression over Arabian Sea intensifies into Cyclone Tauktae, to cross Gujarat coast around May 18: IMD

The deep depression over the Arabian Sea has intensified into cyclonic storm Tauktae and is likely to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya around May 18, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.

It said Tauktae will be a very severe cyclonic storm from May 16-18.

In a bulletin released at 1:45 PM, the IMD said, "It (Tauktae) is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next six hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 12 hours. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya around 18th May afternoon/evening." - PTI

Tauktae very likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm in the next 6 hours, says IMD

Narendra Modi to review preparations to deal with Cyclone Tauktae

Narendra Modi will hold an important meeting on Saturday to review preparations to deal with impending Cyclone Tauktae, government sources said.

Top officers from across government departments, including the National Disaster Management Authority, will attend the meeting. (PTI)

Thunderstorm, rain likely in parts of Haryana, UP over next 2 hours

Thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain with wind speed 20-40 kmph would occur over Adampur, Fathehabad (Haryana) and light intensity rain would occur over Atrauli, Aligarh (UP) and adjoining areas during next 2 hours, according to IMD.

Vistara, Indigo flights likely to be affected

Vistara on Saturday said that due to the adverse weather conditions expected over the Arabian Sea, flights to and from Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, and Ahmedabad are likely to be impacted till May 17. Meanwhile, IndiGo also said that flights to/from Kannur have been impacted.

Cyclonic Storm Tauktae (pronounced as Tau’Te) is now over eastcentral and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea, according to IMD.

Meanwhile, rains have been lashing several parts of Keralasince Thursday night.Overnight rains led to waterlogging and uprooting of trees in many parts of the southern Kollam district.High waves and sea incursion damaged several houses in coastal hamlets of Kollam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts since Thursday night.

Maharashtra's higher and technical education minister Uday Samant, who hails from Konkan, said that the government machinery has been kept in readiness. "Wherever there are oxygen plants, we have sourced generators for backup power. We have kept ambulances ready in case we need evacuation of patients," he said.

Konkan Coast has been put on high alert.

The Konkan coastal belt of Maharashtra has been put on high alert with Cyclone Tauktae expected to hit and make landfall on either Saturday evening or Sunday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray reviewed the situation and asked people to be vigilant. Read more

Covid-19 vaccination drive has been suspended in Mumbai for 2 days in view of cyclone warning.

The Mumbai civic body on Friday decided to suspend its Covid-19 vaccination drive for the next two days in view of the warning about cyclone Tauktae. Read more

Mumbai's civic body is gearing up to minimise impact of cyclone Tauktae.

The Mumbai civic body on Friday said it was taking various precautionary measures in view of the IMD's warning that cyclone Tauktae is likely to pass close to the city during the weekend.

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Cyclone Tauktae likely to reach near Gujarat coast on May 18: IMD

The depression formed over Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea would turn into a cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours and reach near the Gujarat coast on the morning of May 18, officials said on Friday.

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IMD issues red alert in five North Kerala districts

Heavy rains, winds and high tides lashed many parts of Kerala on Friday, causingextensive damageto houses, and flooding at low-lying areas.

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NDRF deploys teams in 5 states ahead of Cyclone Tauktae

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked 53 teams to tackle possible after-effects of cyclone 'Tauktae' that is developing in the Arabian Sea, a senior officer said on Friday.

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