Cyclone Ockhi nears Maharashtra, Gujarat; Mumbai on alert as surprise rains lash city

School and colleges in Mumbai metropolitan region and Konkan to remain shut tomorrow

IndiaToday.in  | Edited By Manas Joshi
December 4, 2017 | UPDATED 23:01 IST
Cyclone OckhiCyclone Ockhi

Cyclone Ockhi, after battering Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has moved passed the Lakshadweep islands and is now heading towards the coasts of Gujarat and northern Maharashtra. The cyclonic activity resulted in un-seasonal rains in Mumbai taking the financial capital by surprise.

The 'very severe' cyclone will make landfall near Surat, in southern Gujarat on the night of December 5th as a deep depression.

Maharashtra's education minister Vinod Tawde declared in a tweet that the state government has declared a 'precautionary holiday' to schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan region, Thane, Sindhudurga, Raigad and Palghar districts.

10 things you need to know about Cyclone Ockhi:

1.   National Crisis Management Committee reviewed relief and rescue operations in States and  Union territories  affected by the cyclone and  took stock of preparedness activities in Maharashtra and Gujarat which are likely to be impacted by the cyclone.

2.   According to Indian Meteorological department, the cyclone is moving north and northeastwards at the speed of 13 km per hour

3.   The cyclone is 590 km away from Mumbai in Southwestern direction while it's 790 km away from Surat in the same direction It  is expected to pass over the coasts of Gujarat and northern Maharashtra on the night of 5th December.

4.   It is expected to take a form of a deep depression when in makes landfall. The IMD  has predicted light showers in Saurashtra and northern Maharashtra on 4th December

5.   It is predicted that the wind speed will be between 50-70 kmph

6.    Fishermen in Gujarat and Maharashtra are advised agianst venturing in the sea from 4th to 6th December

7.   In view of the warning about Ockhi Cyclone in Western Coastal areas of Maharashtra including Western Railway's Suburban section of Palghar District, Western Railway has fully geared up with all necessary precautions and suitable arrangements. Engineering control of WR has been kept on alert to keep a watch on water level over railway tracks in the warned areas.

8.   Similarly, RPF and Commercial control staff of WR has been alerted for monitoring crowd movements and necessary evacuation at respective stations in case of any disaster like situation.

9.   Patrolling of the railway tracks has also been intensified over various rail sections.

10. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman who visited Kanyakumari said that Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force are still engaged in rescue operations to save the lives of fishermen affected by Cyclone Ockhi. She guaranteed the the fishing community that the search and rescue operations will be conducted in the sea until the final fisherman is traced

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