Cyclone Ockhi heads towards Gujarat; causes hailstorm in Mumbai
Cyclone Ockhi
The cyclone is expected to make a landfall in Surat and the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat on December 6, the meteorological department said
Cyclone Ockhi, which was expected to make a landfall in Maharashtra, has now moved away from the state and is heading towards Gujarat.
The cyclone is expected to make a landfall in Surat and the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat on December 6, the meteorological department said.
The Surat district administration has said it is likely to rain today with strong winds and said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is on the alert.
"It's likely to rain today, there will be strong winds. People have been advised not to go out at night. Those living in kachha houses will be given shelter. NDRF is on alert. Municipality and local bodies are working on their level," Surat District Magistrate Mahendra Patel told ANI.
On Twitter, PM Modi appealed to BJP workers in Gujarat to provide assistance to the people.
The prime minister also wrote on Twitter that he was "continuously monitoring the situation arising in various parts of the country."
Election rallies which were to be addressed by BJP President Amit Shah have also been cancelled in Saurashtra.
Meanwhile, schools and colleges in Mumbai and the adjoining areas of Sindhudurga, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts remained shut today as a precautionary measure.
Areas near Mumbai and the Mumbai-Pune highway witnessed a hailstorm today.
The weather department has forecast intermittent rains in Mumbai and suburbs in the next 24 hours.
"Intermittent rain/thundershowers very likely to occur in Mumbai and suburbs in next 24 hours," a report of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai stated at 8 am.
"Heavy rainfall is likely at a few places with squally wind speed reaching 50 to 60 km per hour gusting to 70 km per hour very likely along coastal area in next 24 hours."
The met department has also asked fishermen at the Maharashtra-Goa coasts not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours.
"Fishermen are advised to return back to the coast and are advised not to go out in the sea during next 48 hours," the statement by the met department said.
"Due to severe cyclonic storm 'Ockhi' over the east-central Arabian sea near latitude 15.7°n and longitude 69.2°e, squally weather very likely to prevail along and off your ports."
The deadly cyclone has claimed at least 20 lives with hundreds still missing after it made a landfall in Kerala on November 30 and caused devastation in the southern state, in neighbouring Tamil Nadu before heading for Lakshadweep and Goa.
Search and rescue operations in the southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands continue.
The Navy has deployed 10 naval ships and eight aircraft, round the clock service late last night for the ongoing rescue operations.