Cyclone Nisarga is the second to strike India in less than two weeks after Amphan hit Bengal last month
New Delhi:
Cyclone Nisarga is approaching the north coast of Maharashtra with a speed of 11 kilometers per hour, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday. Nisarga is likely to intensify into a “severe cyclonic storm” with heavy rainfall and wind speeds of 110 km per hour over the next 12 hours. Over 10,000 people, including some coronavirus patients, have been moved to safer locations. Mumbai, the city worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak with over 41,000 cases so far, its suburbs and neighbouring districts are on high alert. Prohibitory orders have been placed in Mumbai, banning movement of people along the coast. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Gujarat and the administrator of Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and assured all possible support. No one is allowed to come out in public places like beaches, parks and promenades along the Mumbai coastline as Cyclone Nisarga is forecast to make landfall around noon on Wednesday, the police said in a late night order. The ban is from Wednesday morning till next day’s noon, the police said in the order, anyone caught violating the ban will face criminal action.
Here are the live updates on Cyclone Nisarga:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday appealed to the people of Mumbai to “stay indoors”. “The cyclone could be more severe than the ones the state has faced till now… Tomorrow (Wednesday) and the day after are crucial in coastal areas… Activities which had resumed (as part of easing of lockdown) will be kept shut there for the next two days, people should remain alert,” Mr Thackeray said.
Cyclone “Nisarga” approaching north Maharashtra coast with a speed of 13 kmph during past 06 hours. It is 155 km south-southwest of Alibag and 200 km south-southwest of Mumbai.
– India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) June 3, 2020
Cyclone Nisarga, the first such storm to threaten Mumbai in over a century, is barreling towards the Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts and is expected to make landfall near Alibaug, about 100 km from Mumbai, on Wednesday afternoon.
