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Cyclone Nisarga: How the Indian west coast is prepared to tackle the storm?

By alagu, 03 June, 2020
India, Maharashtra, Cyclone

While the east coast states in India are still been getting renovated from the devastations caused by the super cyclonic storm Amphan that damaged most of the parts in West Bengal and Odisha late last month, the states on the west coast of the country, particularly Maharashtra and Gujarat, have been preparing to tackle Cyclone Nisarga. 

According to the India Meteorological Department, Cyclone Nisarga will be making landfall on Wednesday afternoon as a severe cyclonic storm close to Alibag, Maharashtra which is 94 kilometers south of Mumbai. The cyclone will hit the shores with a wind speed of 100-110 kilometer per hour and the storm has been predicted to cause major damages to the coastal districts of Maharashtra and Gujarat. 

 

With the warning from the Central government agency, the states that share the Arabian sea have been on high alert amid the Coronavirus outbreak and the respective governments have deployed essential players including forces and measures to tackle the damages and emergencies brought by the storm, which, according to the reports, has been getting intensified.

The on-ground reports say that the Indian Navy and the teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been on the site to carry out the rescue and relief operations. Most parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar, and Nashik districts have been on red alert as the cyclone has been feared to bring extremely heavy rainfall. The NDRF said that it has evacuated around 40,000 people from the coastal areas of Maharashtra and they have been kept in safer places. 

 

The Mumbai corporation has arranged 35 schools as temporary shelters to house the evacuated citizens and the city has deployed 93 lifeguards at six beaches. The reports stated that at least eight units of NDRF and five units of Navy have been stationed at various locations in the city and the city administration has issued guidelines and advisories to the residents and they have been advised to remain indoors.

Alibag in Raigad district has been predicted to get affected more by the cyclone and the district collector has said a total of 13,541 people have been evacuated to safer places as the district prepares to welcome the cyclone. Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray has asked people to stay alert and adhere to the guidelines and the city police commissioner has issued prohibitory orders restricting the movements of people.

 

At least 31 NDRF teams have been deployed in the sea belt areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat owing to evacuate and rescue people of which 16 are in Maharashtra. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Gujarat and assured all possible support and assistance from the Center. 

Cyclone Nisarga is one of the two severe cyclones that will be affecting the Arabian Sea since 1908. Cyclone Vayu has affected the southeast Arabian sea in June last year. Before that, the Arabian sea has recorded two consecutive severe cyclones in June 1902 and 1903. Similarly, it also recorded severe cyclones in June 1907 and June 1908 and Cyclone Nisarga would be joining the list as the severe cyclone after a century.

Helpline numbers to reach Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC): 022-22027990 / 022-22794229

 

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