Nisarga is also only the second time since 1902 that a cyclone has developed over the Arabian Sea in June in two consecutive years. (Express photo by Javed Raja)
Cyclone Nisarga, which intensified into a “severe cyclonic storm” this morning, is headed towards the Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts and is expected to make landfall near Mumbai this afternoon. Strong winds have been prevailing over most parts of Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, Palghar, Ratnagiri and Raigad since Wednesday morning.
This will be the second cyclone to strike India in two weeks and the first to hit Mumbai in June in over 100 years. Nisarga is also only the second time since 1902 that a cyclone has developed over the Arabian Sea in June in two consecutive years.
The IMD has issued a red alert in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Dhule, Nandurbar, and Nashik districts of Maharashtra, which indicates the “possibility of extremely heavy rain at isolated places”. Thousands were evacuated in Maharashtra and Gujarat, two states that are hit the worst by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Section 144 has been imposed in Mumbai and the weather department has issued warnings that the wind may cause damage to kaccha houses, roads, power supply, and communication lines, and trees.
Bracing for the impact, the Central Railway (CR) rescheduled special trains and many airlines also cancelled their Mumbai operations. The CR has rescheduled, diverted and regulated some trains on Wednesday, an official said. These include five special trains departing from Mumbai. Three special trains will be either diverted or regulated enroute, he added. The Indian Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have deployed their teams in coastal districts of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
BMC helpline number: Dial 1916 and press 4
Videos from Mumbai, Gujarat as residents brace for cyclone Nisarga
#CycloneNisarga : a tree fell on a house in Alibaugh, Maharashtra following strong winds pic.twitter.com/tvBoVHP48e
#WATCH NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams recceing the Dahanu, Palghar coast early morning today: SN Pradhan, NDRF Director-General. #Maharashtra #CycloneNisarga pic.twitter.com/ThAASXuYVo
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2020
A Short time-lapse of #CycloneNisarga, this is just start, Major Will start from 3rd June.😩 #Monsoon #Gujarat #Maharashtra #CyclonicStorm #DNH pic.twitter.com/4laz0bEZBa
— Purv Jeja (@jeja_purv) June 1, 2020
And Cyclone Nisarga Arrives In Vashi!
Praying for animals & poor people living on the streets.#CycloneNisarga pic.twitter.com/7tQKQsl3YL— Sunaina Vinod (@NidarNaari) June 2, 2020
#CycloneNisarga #NisargaCyclone effect on Somnath temple. Heavy rain is expected. pic.twitter.com/8AY39IlNub
— harshoza (@harshoza03) June 3, 2020
#WATCH: Strong winds and high tides hit Versova Beach in Mumbai. As per IMD,#NisargaCyclone is likely cross south of Alibag (Raigad) between 1pm to 3pm today. pic.twitter.com/xwKhcu5Xyd
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2020
A red alert, indicating extremely heavy rain, has been sounded in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad on Wednesday by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). (Express Photo: Ganesh Shirsekar)
#NisargaCyclone Hits Gujarat. Disturbing visuals coming in from Bhavnagar. #Nisarga #CycloneNisarga #Cyclone #CycloneNisarg #CycloneNisargaUpdate #Gujarat#NisargaUpdates pic.twitter.com/ITCHlWG8vH
— ᎯᏦЅℋᎯᎽ TℋᎯℙᎯℛ (@IAmAkshayThapar) June 2, 2020
#CycloneNisarga : 5 Rescue Teams of Indian Navy at standby in Mumbai for deployment pic.twitter.com/GUz1AGR9d5
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) June 2, 2020
#CycloneNisarga making its way 💨 #StayAtHomeAndStaySafe pic.twitter.com/4pwxOgceZ7
— Shakti Mohan (@MohanShakti) June 3, 2020
Rains n wind both hv started picking up pace at #colaba #charniroad n nearby areas in #southmumbai which are extremely close to #arabiansea coast#mumbairains#CycloneNisarga #CycloneNisarg@IndiaWeatherMan @SkymetWeather pic.twitter.com/oOav7s3VBF
— Utsav Modi (@UtsavModi20) June 3, 2020
Wind has started picking up pace #pune #cyclonenisarga pic.twitter.com/59NARPXj1u
— Bhautik Joshi (@KreativeGeek) June 3, 2020
Outside CSMT in Mumbai (Express photo/Nirmal Harindran)
I think it’s time…. #CycloneNisarga pic.twitter.com/5oBDKNXqoa
— Arpit V (@ArpitV11) June 2, 2020
— arvind chawla (@arvindchawla16) June 2, 2020
Bro #CycloneNisarga is effecting rajasthan too 🙏 pray for the people of west coast pic.twitter.com/vSzGhSJv5o
— Siddharth Gautam (@sid_dharth_GTM) June 2, 2020
#CycloneNisarga to make landfall today afternoon after intensifying into Severe Cyclonic category.
It is likely to cross north Maharashtra & adjoining south Gujarat coast between Harihareshwar and Daman with wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph: IMD @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/K32WjLHc60— Tanmay Das (@tanmay__das) June 3, 2020
#CycloneNisarga: Be Cyclone Ready.
During Cyclone:
◾️Switch off Electrical Mains,Gas Supply
◾️Keep Doors&Windows Shut
◾️Listen to Radio
◾️Drink Boiled water
◾️Rely only on Official updates
◾️If your house is unsafe leave before the onset.— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) June 2, 2020
High tides seen at Tithal beach in Valsad district (Express photo Javed Raja)