Cyclone Tauktae: NDRF has deployed 101 teams for relief and rescue operations.
Cyclone Tauktae will intensify further, the weather office has said, as the "very severe" storm hurtled towards Gujarat, leaving behind a trail of destruction. It will make landfall between Porbandar and Mahuva on Tuesday, unleashing rapid wind.
Here top 10 updates on Cyclone Tauktae:
On Saturday, the cyclonic storm triggered strong wind, heavy rainfall and high tidal waves in Karnataka, Kerala and Goa, killing at least four people, and destroying houses, electricity poles and trees. It also forced evacuations of people living on coastal areas of the affected states.
In Maharashtra, coastal areas are on high alert. Covid patients undergoing treatment at dedicated facilities in coastal areas were relocated to safer facilities. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office tweeted that the government would ensure uninterrupted power and oxygen in hospitals. Police and other officials have been deployed to deal with the cyclone. "Patients will not face gaps in the treatment," it said.
In Gujarat, around 1.5 lakh people were being shifted from low-lying coastal areas to safe locations. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has asked officials to ensure that electricity supply to COVID-19 hospitals and other medical facilities are not disrupted, news agency Reuters reported.
In Karnataka, over 70 villages in seven districts, including Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Hassan, have been affected by Cyclone Tauktae. The highest rainfall measuring 385 mm was recorded at Nada Station in Kundapura taluk of Udupi district. 15 stations recorded more than 200 mm of rainfall in the district, news agency PTI reported.
The Goa government said hundreds of electric poles were uprooted and houses damaged as heavy rainfall and strong winds hit the coastal state. "Many high tensions 33 KV feeders are down due to the falling of trees. Even the 220 KV lines bringing power to Goa from neighbouring Maharashtra have been damaged," Goa's Power Minister Nilesh Cabral was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
The weather office has predicted light to moderate rainfall in Gujarat's Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Narmada, Tapi, Surat, Bharuch, Dang and Dahod districts because of the cyclone. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in isolated areas in Gujarat on Monday.
Home Minister Amit Shah, who reviewed the preparedness of the affected states on Sunday, said in a statement that thousands of disaster response personnel have been deployed to deal with the fallout of the cyclone. Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard, along with ships and aircraft, have also been deployed to tackle emergencies.
According to National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) head SN Pradhan, the strength of NDRF teams has been increased to 101 in all affected coastal districts. 65 NDRF teams have been pre-deployed, he said. 10 quick response medical teams and 5 public health response teams with emergency medicines have also been deployed.
Coast Guard on Sunday said all fishing boats, except 18 in Maharashtra and one in Gujarat, had reached the harbours. "Pre-emptive measures in full swing for Maharashtra and Gujarat. Barring 18 boats from Maharashtra and one boat from Gujarat, all boats have either returned to harbour or taken shelter in nearby ports," it tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting on Saturday evening and told officials to ensure people were safely evacuated. He has directed officials to plan for the unhindered movement of oxygen tankers.
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