Cyclone Nisarga | Cyclone now moving towards north-east Maharashtra: IMD

Maharashtra and Gujarat geared up for Cyclone Nisarga, which began its landfall on Wednesday noon 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.

Also read: Cyclone Nisarga: June 2 updates

Here are the latest updates:

Two dead, three injured as cyclonic storm enters Pune district

Two people died and three others were injured in two cyclone-related incidents in Pune district on Wednesday, said officials.

Cyclone Nisarga is currently centered over Pune after making landfall in coastal Raigad district of Maharashtra around 1 p.m..

Cyclone threat to Mumbai has lessened: Maharashtra Revenue Minister

The threat posed by cyclonic storm ‘Nisarga’ to Mumbai has lessened, but the next few hours will be quite crucial, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said on Wednesday.

He also said trees got uprooted at various places and power supply snapped as poles fell.

Thorat said authorities in Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar are on alert considering the trajectory of the cyclone.

“Though the threat posed to Mumbai by the cyclone has reduced, the next few hours will be quite crucial. The cyclone can have influence over an average of 200 km from its eye,” Mr. Thorat tweeted.

 

Cyclone ‘Nisarga’ now moving towards north-east Maharashtra: IMD

After making landfall at Alibaug in Maharashtra’s Raigad district on Wednesday afternoon, cyclonic storm ‘Nisarga’ is moving north-east and is likely to impact Nashik, Dhule and Nandurbar districts, which may witness heavy showers with gusty winds, an IMD official said.

The landfall process started near Alibaug at around 1 pm and ended by 4 pm, he said.

Districts such as Raigad, Palghar, Thane and Mumbai were affected by the cyclonic storm.

BSE, NSE ready to access carry out operations from DR site amid cyclone threat

To avoid any service disruption as a result of the cyclonic storm, BSE and National Stock Exchange will carry out operations from disaster recovery (DR) site, if required, the two leading exchanges said on Wednesday.

In such a scenario, market participants will be intimated appropriately, the exchanges said in separate circulars.

This comes following a warning issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD) with regard to cyclonic storm “Nisarga”, which hit Maharashtra on Wednesday.

Cyclone | Rains cause water-logging in Pune

Several low-lying areas in Maharashtra’s Pune remained inundated due to rains brought in by cyclone ‘Nisarga’ since Tuesday night, officials said on Wednesday.

Incidents of trees falling due to gusty winds have also been reported at some places in the city.

The cyclone made landfall in coastal Raigad district, several kilometres away from here, on Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the IMD predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in ghat areas in and around Pune district with squally and gutsy winds.

Flight operations at Mumbai airport to resume from 6 p.m.

The flight operations at the Mumbai airport, which were earlier suspended till 7 pm, will now resume from 6 pm, an airport spokesperson said on Wednesday.

MIAL, the private airport operator, had earlier announced that all operations at the CSMIA will remain suspended between 2.30 pm and 7 pm as a precautionary measure in view of the cyclone Nisarga.

“The landing and take-off is permitted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will be permitted from 6 pm,” the spokesperson said in the statement.

Mumbai Congress sets up control room in view of ‘Nisarga’ cyclone

The Mumbai unit of the Congress has set up a “control room” to assist people in view of the threat posed by the severe cyclonic storm ‘Nisarga’ that made landfall in Raigad on Wednesday.

The Maharashtra Congress gave this information on its official Twitter handle.

Cyclone Nisarga shows signs of weakening

After storming the Maharashtra coast with wind speeds of up to 120 kmph on Wednesday afternoon, Cyclone Nisarga has started weakening and its intensity will reduce further by evening, the India Meteorological Department said.

 The landfall of the cyclone began at 12.30 PM at Alibaug and the process was completed by 2.30 PM, IMD director general Mrutunjay Mohapatra said. The storm lay 75 kilometres southeast of Mumbai and 65 kilometres west of Pune.

It has started weakening. The wind speed is currently 90-100 kilometres per hour and the intensity will reduce further by evening, he said.

Mumbai airport suspends operations till 7 p.m.

Flight operations at the Mumbai airport will remain shut till 7 pm on Wednesday as a preventive step due to the ongoing landfall of Cyclone Nisarga, Mumbai International Ltd (MIAL) said.

“Considering the strong crosswinds, it has been decided that no arrivals and departures will take place between 2.30 pm and 7 pm,” MIAL said in a statement.

It said that the decision to temporarily suspend flight services at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) was taken in consultation with the Airport Authority of India (AAI)

No major impact in Gujarat after ‘Nisarga’ makes landfall in Maharashtra

No untoward incident has been reported in southern coast of Gujarat so far on Wednesday due to the severe cyclonic storm ‘Nisarga’, which has made landfall in neighbouring Maharashtra, a senior official said.

Authorities have so far shifted more than 63,700 people living close to the coast in eight districts to safer places as a precautionary measure, he said.

The cyclone made landfall near Alibaug in coastal Raigad district of Maharashtra around 12:30 pm.

CM asks administration to ensure immediate relief

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday directed the state administration to maintain operational readiness and ensure immediate rescue works.

Mr. Thackeray is in constant touch with collectors of districts on the western coast of the state for updates about the impact of Nisarga, Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said.

“The CM has given directions for maintaining a state of operational readiness and to ensure immediate rescue works as the cyclone moves from Mumbai and Thane to North Maharashtra. #CycloneNisargaUpdate, the CMO tweeted.

Thackeray is also in constant touch with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal and ward officers and issuing instructions to ensure that the cyclone causes minimum damage, the CMO said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is also reviewing the situation in Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg by speaking to their respective district collectors.

Mumbai airport suspends its operations

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) temporarily halted flight operations on Wednesday after a cargo aircraft was involved in a runway excursion or over shooting after landing.

"The aircraft went slightly ahead due to the prevailing cyclonic conditions. As there is severe cross winds, we have suspended operations for the time being," an official said.

In consultation with AAI, considering the strong crosswinds, it was decided that no arrivals and departures would take place between 2.30 p.m. and 7 p.m, the airport operator said.

In view of the cyclone, MIAL was operating a further curtailed operation of 19 flights, which include 11 departures and 8 arrivals as against the 25 arrivals and 25 departures permitted by the Maharashtra government. - Aditya Anand

 

Trees and poles fall as ‘Nisarga’ makes landfall near Alibaug

 

Cyclone ‘Nisarga’ has made landfall near Alibaug on Maharashtra coast with the wind speed of more than 110 kms per hour and heavy rainfall, leading to falling of many trees and electricity poles, a Raigad district official said.

The cyclone hit areas near Dive Agar in Shrivardhan, 87 kms away from Raigad, district collector Nidhi Choudhary said.

“Due to the impact of the gusting winds, many trees and electric poles fell down in Shrivardhan as well as in Alibaug,” the collector said.

She said 13,541 people have been shifted to safer places so far.

“We have identified 62 villages in the radius of five kilometres near the coastline (in Raigad) and are taking extra precautions there,” the collector said.

She appealed to people to stay indoors until Thursday morning for their own safety.

The collector said the fallen trees and electricity supply poles will be removed in the next few days and replaced with new poles.

“Not only the coastal areas in Raigad, but residents of towns like Roha, Tala, Sudhagad, Khalapur, Mangaon, Panvel and Poladpur will also have to remain alert,” she said.

Cyclone fury

 

10 sailors rescued off Ratnagiri

At least 10 sailors were rescued from a ship, which was stranded off the coast of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra due to high tide and heavy rains in the wake of cyclonic storm Nisarga on Wednesday.

The vessel with a crew of 10 was spotted from the Mirya Bunder area of Ratnagiri and efforts were made to bring it to the coast, the official said.

However, the high tide coupled with heavy rains and rough winds pushed the ship towards the coast of Mirakwada, where the sailors were rescued safely, he said.

Safe area

 

1,500 people shifted to sturdy shelter in Alibaug:CMO

About 1,500 citizens were evacuated and shifted to a safe and sturdy shelter in Alibaug in Raigad district of coastal Maharashtra earlier on Wednesday, as per Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s Office Twitter page.

Disaster Control Room received 37 complaints of trees or branches falling. There are 96 small teams of Garden department stationed in Mumbai to shift collapsed tree branches. A towing facility is also ready to tow away vehicles that break down on roads.

BMC evacuating people from low lying areas

 

 

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is making announcements in various flood-prone parts of the city, asking people to move to safer locations.

BMC remained on its toes to prepare for Cyclone Nisarga’s landfall on Wednesday afternoon.

The civic body has moved 10,640 people to safety from flood prone areas in Mumbai so far. It has identified 35 schools for evacuating people from coastal, flood-prone areas.

Municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi visited disaster control room at civic headquarters to take stock of the situation. Representatives of BEST, Fire brigade, police, shelter facilities are stationed at the control room for better coordination.

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar took stock of the situation by visiting Mumbai’s beaches. - Tanvi Deshpande

Traffic on Bandra-Worli sea link suspended

 

Vehicular movement on iconic 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.

Mumbai Police are taking every precautions to avert any untoward damage due to the cyclone, it said.

Animals shifted to safer place in Mumbai zoo

In the wake of the cyclonic storm ‘Nisarga’, all carnivorous animals in Mumbai zoo have been shifted to holding areas in their enclosures to keep them safe from rain and strong winds. A zoo emergency response team is on alert to avoid any untoward incident.

Carnivores like tigers, leopards and hyenas have been shifted to the holding areas from the exhibit areas, an official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

“The holding areas are safe to avoid any damage from tree fall. A 20-member zoo emergency response team, comprising animal keepers, gardener and tree-trimming and security staff, is on the job to tackle any untoward incident,” he said. - PTI

Cyclone Nisarga moving along predicted path: NDRF DG

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. - PTI

Landfall process of Cyclone Nisarga starts close to Alibaug in Maharashtra, likely to be completed in three hours, says IMD

Kashid, Murud or Diveagar? Experts differ on landfall site

Even as IMD has not specified it, south of Alibaug could mean Kashid, Murud. When asked if it will make landfall in Harihareshwar, K S Hosalikar, deputy director general, IMD said, "It will not go that far."

Elaborating on the landfall, Mr Hosalikar said, "We had already said near Alibaug. Now we are saying south of Alibaug. Mumbai will continue to have impact including high wind speed and rain."

However, experts had a different opinion.

Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at private weather forecaster Skymet Weather tweeted, "#Mumbai seems to escape fury of #CycloneNisarga, as it is going to make #landfall south of #Mumbai near #Harihareshwar. But please do not lower your guards. Winds may increase anytime. Be careful until 5 pm. Landfall of #CycloneNisarga has commenced north of #Harihareshwar in #Raigad district."

Akshay Deoras, PhD student at Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK who follows Indian weather closely tweeted, "The centre of #CycloneNisarga started striking the coast around 10am IST today between #Shrivardhan and #Diveagar in #Raigad district, which is ~100 km to the south of #Mumbai." - Tanvi Deshpande

Awaiting landfall

 

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.

Cyclone Nisarga to make landfall at Diveagar

 

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said that the landfall would be at Diveagar in Shrivardhan, over 100 kilometers south of Mumbai. "Cyclone Nisarga has now slightly shifted course northeastwards. It will make landfall at Diveagar, south of Alibaug between 1pm and 3pm," according to the Met Department.

As forecast, Mumbai will see gusty winds upto 120kmph speed

 

This image taken by the INSAT-3D satellite shows intense convective cloud developed along the Konkan Coast, under the influence of cyclone Nisarga. The image was taken between 10:30 a.m. and 10:57 a.m. on June 3, 2020 and was shared via IMD Twitter handle.

 

Gujarat evacuates 50,000 people

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.

- Mahesh Langa

Watch: Animation on the movement of Nisarga

 

Trains rescheduled, diverted due to cyclone Nisarga

Five special trains departing from Mumbai have been rescheduled and three special trains will be either diverted or regulated enroute, the Central Railway (CR) said in a release.

1. LTT-Gorakhpur Special will depart at 8 p.m. instead of 11.10 a.m.
2. LTT-Thiruvananthapuram Special at 6 p.m. instead of 11.40 a.m.
3. LTT-Darbhanga Special at 8.30 p.m. instead of 12.15 pm
4. LTT-Varanasi Special will depart at 9 p.m. instead of 12.40 p.m.

CSMT-Bhubaneswar Special will depart from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) at 8 p.m. instead of 3.05 p.m.

Patna-LTT Special scheduled to arrive at 11.30 a.m., and Varanasi-CSMT Special scheduled to arrive at 2.15 pm on Wednesday will be regulated enroute and arrive behind schedule, the CR said.

Thiruvananthapuram-LTT Special scheduled to arrive 4.40pm will be diverted via Pune to arrive at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) here behind schedule, it added.

According to the Konkan Railway, it has diverted the Ernakulam H.Nizamuddin Special and Thiruvananthapuram Central-LTT Special trains, which departed on June 2, via Madgaon Junction-Londa-Miraj Pune Manmad route.

The Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Central Special, dated June 2, has also been diverted via Surat Vasai Road Kalyan Miraj Londa Madgaon route, the Konkan Railway said in a release.

- PTI

Nisarga lays 175 km south-southwest of Mumbai

The India Meteorological Department(IMD) in its hourly update said that the severe cyclonic storm Nisarga lay over the east central Arabian Sea about 130 km south-southwest of Alibagh (175 km south-southwest of Mumbai) at 8.30 a.m on June 3.

It is expected to move north-eastwards and cross Maharashtra coast, close to the south of Alibagh, today afternoon as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.

 

 

 

Alert sounded in many rural parts of Pune district

 

While the risk from Cyclone Nisarga to Pune district may be relatively low as compared to Mumbai city and districts in the Konkan division, a number of tehsils in the district’s rural parts have been placed on ‘high alert’, said authorities on Tuesday.

Ayush Prasad, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pune Zilla Parishad, said that immediate preventive measures were being taken to ensure that there was no loss to life and minimal damage to property.

NDRF teams on standby in coastal Maharashtra

 

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Tuesday increased the number of its personnel pressed into service to deal with any emergency situations that might come up during the Cyclone Nisarga predicted by the India Meteorological Department. The Mumbai Police, meanwhile, issued fresh prohibitory orders forbidding any assembly at promenades and beaches in the city.

Railways on alert

The Mumbai Divisions of the Western Railways (WR) and Central Railways (CR) have taken a series of precautions in the city in light of the approaching cyclone Nisarga. While no trains have been cancelled as yet, railway officials said that they were monitoring the situation closely and would take call on regulating or short terminating trains if the need arose. The railways on Monday had partially resumed timetabled long distance services to several parts of the country with many trains either starting from Mumbai or being routed via the larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Telecom Department takes stock of preparedness

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has taken stock of the readiness and arrangements made by telecom companies for ensuring network connectivity in Maharashtra and Gujarat, ahead of cyclone Nisarga.

“All our infratructure provider (IP) members have taken necessary steps to ensure connectivity 24/7 in the areas which are likely to be affected by the cyclone and all the background arrangements like additional DG sets, battery banks, spare parts, stocking of diesel are taken care of,” T.R. Dua, Director-General, Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA), said in a statement.

Mumbai to operate minimum flights on Wednesday

GVK MIAL managed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will operate a total of 19 flights on June 3 in wake of cyclone Nisarga that is expected to make landfall near Mumbai.

The curtailed schedule will include 11 departures and 8 arrivals. The flights will be operated by 5 airlines which include Air Asia India, Air India, IndiGo, GoAir and SpiceJet.

We are prepared: Maharashtra CM

 

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday, in a televised address, said, “We can only pray that its intensity decreases by the time it reaches us. But we are prepared. We have contacted all fisherfolk in the State and are bringing them back home.” There were some from Palghar with whom we were unable to get in touch with earlier in the day, but we have now reached them as well. They won’t be allowed to venture out into the sea for the next two days.”

Western Naval Command teams gear up

With Cyclone Nisarga brewing in the Arabian Sea, the Western Naval Command has put its teams on alert and mobilised adequate resources for flood relief, rescue and diving assistance in the event of heavy rainfall in urban and rural areas.

The Western Naval Command is coordinating with State governments on the western seaboard. It has loaded ships of the Western Fleet with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief bricks to provide relief to coastal areas likely to receive heavy rain.

Orange alert for Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange alerts for Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod for Wednesday as these districts can expect heavy to very rainfall. The IMD has also issued yellow alerts, signalling the possibility of isolated heavy rainfall, for Malappuram, Thrissur, Idukki and Ernakulam for Wednesday.

INCOIS forecasts high waves along west coast today

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has forecast that high waves of up to 6.5 metres are likely to lash the Maharashtra coast, waves up to 4.5 metres along Goa coast and 4-metre high waves on South Gujarat coast on Wednesday.

The institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences and also housing the Tsunami Warning Centre here is monitoring the movement of the cyclonic storm ‘Nisarga’ over east central Arabian Sea using its ‘Wave Monitoring Along Nearshore or ‘WAMAN’ buoy network and mooring buoy network of National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) with real-time communication to four lakh public, including fishermen along the west coast.