Mumbai :Severe cyclonic storm Nisarga - the second to strike India in two weeks - made landfall on the Maharashtra coast near Alibaugh at around 1 pm. This is the first such storm in a long time to impact coronavirus-hit Mumbai, which has reported over 41,000 COVID-19 cases so far. No one is allowed to come out in public places like beaches,parks and promenades along the Mumbai coastline, the police said in a late-night order. No arrivals and departures are allowed at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport till 7 pm. Besides Maharashtra, Gujarat, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have been puton high alert as some parts of these two states and the union territories fall on the path of the cyclone that developed over a low pressure area over the Arabian Sea. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), four areas in Maharashtra are likely to face the most severe impact of Nisarga --Thane, Palgad, Raigarh and Mumbai.
Tropical storm Nisarga made landfall this afternoon near Alibaug, a popular getaway about 100 km from Mumbai, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) chief SN Pradhan,tweeted, along with some clips that show trees swaying amid strong winds and heavy rain.
An important setting in colonial history, Alibaug reported wind speed of 93 km per hour this afternoon. The tropical storm - likely to weaken into a cyclone in the next six hours - crossed the coast with wind speeds of 100-110 km per hour, gusting up to 120 km per hour, the weather office said.
Forty-three teams of National Disaster Response Force or NDRF have been deployed in areas expectedto be affected along Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts. One NDRF team consists of45 personnel. "The evacuation is nearly complete. Those in shelters are being trained for life skills and social distancing is being ensured. All preparations are in order. Let's hope we safely ride through the cyclone,"NDRF chief SN Pradhan said in a video message this afternoon.
In Maharashtra, more than 40,000 people have been moved to safety, news agency PTI reported. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday appealed to the people of the state to"stay indoors" for two days. "The cyclone could be more severe thanthe ones the state has faced till now," Mr Thackeray said. With over 70,000 COVID-19 cases, the state is the worst-hit in the country by the pandemic.
Mumbai's civic body Brihan mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has put out a list of dos and don'ts for citizens, urging them to stay away from windows, check for gas leaks and keep mobile phones charged. "Dial 1916 and Press 4 for any cyclone-related questions. Ignore rumours, stay calm, don't panic," the BMC said. The Banda-Worli sea link in the city has been closed for traffic and rescue teams are on standy near coasts.
A storm surge - as high as two metres (three to 6.5 feet) above the astronomical tide - may inundate the low-lying coastal areas of Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts, the weather department has said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Office (CMO) on Tuesday listed some of the measures that were being taken. These included evacuating those staying in that chedhuts. Non-COVID-19 hospitals have been instructed to prepare for any medical emergencies. The state is also taking measures in case of breaks in electricity supply and to secure the nuclear power plant in Palghar district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday tweeted: "Took stock of the situation in the wake of cyclone conditions in parts of India's western coast. Praying for everyone'swell-being. I urge people to take all possible precautions and safety measures(sic)". In a tweet, his office later said that PM Modi spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minster Uddhav Thackeray, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, assuring all possible help from the centre.
The civil aviationregulator - Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA - on Tuesday cautioned airlines about the dangers of operating during monsoon and stormy conditions. Air and rail traffic has been disrupted due to the storm.
Cyclone Nisarga isthe second to strike India's coasts in nearly two weeks. Last month Cyclone Amphan, one of the worst storms to have formed over the Bay of Bengal in recent years, struck Bengal and parts of Odisha, killing nearly 100 people and affecting lakhs. Bengal Chief Minister estimated the damage done at Rs1 lakh crore.