Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with top government officials and representatives from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Saturday to review preparations for Cyclone Tauktae, which is expected to hit India on Sunday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow cyclone alert for the Gujarat and Diu coasts earlier on Saturday, claiming that cyclonic storm Tauktae had formed over the east-central and adjoining south-east Arabian sea. “Deep Depression intensified into a Cyclonic Storm “Tauktae” (pronounced as Tau’Te) over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast & eastcentral Arabian Sea: Cyclone watch for south Gujarat & Diu coasts,” the IMD has tweeted.
IMD also forecasted that the cyclone would reach near Gujarat coast on the morning of May 18. “Deep Depression over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast & eastcentral Arabian Sea about 55 km north-northwest of Amini http://Divi.To intensify into a Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hrs. To move north-northwestwards and reach near Gujarat coast by 18th May morning,” the weather body said in a subsequent tweet.
Earlier on Saturday, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray also tweeted that “In a prep meeting regarding Cyclone Tauktae, CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray instructed the District Administration, Divisional Commissioners & District Collectors to be vigilant & well equipped in coastal areas, especially of Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri & Sindhudurg.”
The IMD also recommended a total suspension of fishing operations over the east central and adjoining south east Arabian seas, as well as along the coasts of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra, in a bulletin issued Saturday morning.
