Cyclone Nisarga live updates: Red alert as Mumbai braces for first-ever cyclone in its history

Depression to intensify into a deep depression by afternoon intensify further into a cyclonic storm over Eastcentral Arabian Sea during next 12 hours. Very likely to cross north Maharashtra & south Gujarat coasts between Harihareshwar & Daman tomorrow afternoon, reports ANI

IMD has forecast that the cyclone accompanied with heavy rains and wind velocity of between 90 and 100 kmph is likely to hit the coastal areas of Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Dang and Bharuch in south Gujarat, besides the UT of Daman, and Amreli and Bhavnagar districts in Saurashtra region. A high alert has been issued in south Gujarat, and an alert warning has been issued in Saurashtra.

Cyclone Nisarga: High alert issued for south Gujarat

Chief minister Vijay Rupani presided over a high-power committee meeting on Monday to review the precautionary measures being taken by state and district administration for the cyclone, which is likely to hit south Gujarat and Saurashtra regions on June 3.

Covid-hit Gujarat braces for cyclonic storm tomorrow

The cyclonic storm brewing in the Arabian Sea was barrelling towards Gujarat and is expected to hit the coast near Daman on the night of June 3, forcing the state government to brace up for any eventuality. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the cyclonic storm is packing strong winds and expected to pound heavy rain in the region on June 3 and 4.

Mumbai has never faced a cyclone, but now there’s climate change

Mumbai has never been hit by a cyclone in documented history—even a story about an 1882 Bombay cyclone that was supposed to have killed 100,000 was shown by scientist Adam Sobel to be an urban legend. The reason for Mumbai’s low risk lies in the weather dynamics of the Arabian Sea. On average the sea sees one or two cyclonic formations every year—far fewer than in the Bay of Bengal. When they do form, they tend to go west towards Oman and the Gulf of Aden. Or they head north towards Gujarat, as with the 1998 cyclone that killed thousands, or last year’s Cyclone Vayu.

Airports told to park planes safely, hospitals on high alert for cyclone

The prospect of cyclone Nisarga has led to unprecedented measures in the state’s coastal districts, including Mumbai. Hazardous chemical manufacturing industries have been asked to bring operations to safe mode by Tuesday, Mumbai and Juhu airports have been asked to park planes at safe spots and power firms have been instructed to ensure connections are not disrupted. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has said people who live in temporary or weak houses will be shifted to relief camps. Hospitals have been kept on high alert.

Nisarga is expected to make landfall in Palghar on Wednesday evening. Ten of the 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been stationed in coastal districts, including three in Mumbai and two in Palghar and Dahanu. Six teams are on standby.

Union home minister Amit Shah had a meeting with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday to review Maharashtra’s preparedness for Nisarga. The reason for Mumbai’s low risk from cyclones lies in the weather dynamics of the Arabian Sea. On average, the sea sees one or two cyclonic formations every year and when they do form, they tend to go west towards Oman and the Gulf of Aden, or head north towards Gujarat, as with the 1998 cyclone that killed thousands, or last year’s Cyclone Vayu.

The IMD on Monday issued a red alert for Wednesday, indicating extremely heavy rain at isolated places in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad owing to Nisarga. The Central Water Commission (CWC) warned of possible flash floods in Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Thane, Mumbai and Nashik, and tidal waves in the coastal regions of north Maharashtra and south Gujarat.

Red alert as Mumbai braces for first-ever cyclone in its history

The city could be in for a weather phenomenon that has never occurred in its documented history. A cyclone developing over the Arabian Sea—the second to be forming near India in a fortnight—is expected to make landfall just 110km north of Mumbai on Wednesday evening, likely triggering flash floods all along the state’s coast, including in the metropolitan region. Winds owing to the cyclone, Nisarga, could reach 115kmph, with gales of up to 125kmph.