IMD issues red, orange alerts over cyclone Tauktae, NDRF teams dispatched

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings to five coastal states, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, against a low-pressure intensifying into a cyclone by May 16.

The cyclonic storm, first of 2021, has been named 'Tauktae' which means 'gecko', a highly vocal lizard, in the Burmese language. The name has been given by Myanmar.

Consequently, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked 53 teams to tackle possible after-effects of cyclone "Tauktae".

NDRF Director General SN Pradhan said in a tweet that these teams are being deployed in the coastal regions of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Code red alert, indicating extremely heavy rains, has been reinstated in five districts of Kerala. The IMD has predicted extremely heavy rains (red alert) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam on Friday.

Cyclone Tauktae which has formed over the Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep, will concentrate over the same region by Saturday morning and further intensify into a cyclonic storm on Sunday, triggering heavy rains in southern parts of the country.

The warning issued on May 13 said, "A low-pressure area has formed over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep area today. It is very likely to become well marked over Lakshadweep area by Friday morning."

Cyclone Tauktae would also lead to heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Thane, Goa and other parts of south Konkan over the next few days. According to the IMD, 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm rainfall in 24 hours is considered heavy.

As per IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is also predicted in parts of coastal and South Interior Karnataka from May 14.

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• IMD
• NDRF
• cyclone
• cyclonic storm
• Tauktae