Cyclone Tauktae makes landfall at Saurashtra coast; 2 lakh people evacuated
Vehicular traffic came to a halt along the Saurashtra coast as squally winds and rain reduced visibility to barely a few metres. Dozens of trees lining Rajula-Amreli state highway have been uprooted, partially blocking the highway.
FollowThe Indian Meteorological Department has confirmed that Cyclone Tauktae has made landfall along the Saurashtra coast with gale-force wind and heavy rainfall.
Vehicular traffic came to a halt along the Saurashtra coast as stormy winds and rain reduced visibility to barely a few metres. Dozens of trees lining Rajula-Amreli state highway have been uprooted, partially blocking the highway.
Reports of waves as high as 3 metres are coming in. Wind speeds over 100 kmph have resulted in a power outage in Kodinar and Una localities in the Gir Somnath district.Â
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that nearly 2 lakh persons had been evacuated from along the Saurashtra and Kutch coastal belt.
Weather experts say that Saurashtra and Gujarat are likely to witness extremely heavy rains up to over 200 mm over the next 24 hours.
The Gujarat government has deployed teams from several departments to provide rescue and relief.Â
Special arrangements have been made in hospitals treating Covid-infected patients to ensure uninterrupted electricity.Â
Hundreds of ambulances have been kept on standby to shift patients in emergency cases. The authorities have closed ports as a precaution.
Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and took stock of the situation and measures taken by the state government.
The Prime Minister assured all the possible help and assistance from the central government concerning the cyclone.
The Indian Army on Monday said it had put 180 teams and nine engineer task forces on standby to face any contingency.
"Sector commanders and Divisional HQ (headquarter) are in touch with District Collectors and the Revenue Commissioner who is the nodal agency for relief activities in Gujarat," the Army said in a statement.
Before landfall, the cyclone claimed six lives in Maharashtra and forced about 12,500 citizens to be relocated to safer locations.
