Cyclone Tauktae: 'Tauktae' storm intensifies, orange alert to Mumbai, Thane, Palghar

A light spell of rain and gusty winds was witnessed in the early hours of Monday in view of the Cyclone Tauktae in Mumbai.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert for Mumbai, predicting moderate to intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 75-85 kmph is likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar and Ratnagiri during the next three hours.

The torrential rains that started in the state on Saturday night have hit Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. In some places, trees have collapsed, and houses have been severely damaged.
There were power outages in many places. Two children died in the Anchalwadi area of Maharashtra's Jalgaon district after strong winds of cyclone Tauktae caused an uprooted tree to crash into their hut on Sunday, informed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

The pre-emptive measures by ICG continue with full steam with a focus on the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat as the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Tauktae' travels northwards and is predicted to make landfall at Gujarat coast on the morning of 18th May. In view of the impact, an orange alert has been issued to Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts, while a red alert has been issued to Raigad district. Orange alert has also been issued to Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.

The Indian Meteorological Department on Monday informed that the cyclone is nearing towards south-southeast of Diu.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials have assured on Friday that they are well prepared for Cyclone Tauktae and 53 teams have been committed, 24 teams pre-deployed, and 29 teams are on standby ready for the 5 most vulnerable states-- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra.