Mumbai escapes severity of cyclone “Nisarga” after it changes roots
MUMBAI/ NEW DELHI : Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Nisarga’ weakens into a Cyclonic Storm over coastal Maharashtra. The worst of the severe cyclonic storm Nisarga – the second to strike India in two weeks – with rain stopping and wind speeds reducing drastically.
No damage has been reported from the financial capital where movement of people was restricted in public places like beaches, parks and promenades along the coastline till tomorrow afternoon. Flight operations, which were suspended at the city’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, have resumed.
Indian Coast Guard Region (West) has mobilised eight disaster relief teams in Maharashtra to help with any humanitarian crisis
Light to moderate rainfall at most places, heavy to very heavy rainfalls at isolated places very likely in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh during next 24 hours: India Meteorological Department.
In view of the threat posed by Cyclone Nisarga, the Mumbai Police on Wednesday imposed Section 144 in the entire city from midnight to Thursday afternoon and banned people from coming to places like beaches, parks and promenades along the coastline.
The vehicular movement has been restricted on Bandra-Worli Sea Link until further notice and flights have been cancelled between 2:30 pm to 7 pm in Mumbai
After making landfall at Alibaug in Maharashtra’s Raigad district on Wednesday afternoon, cyclonic storm ‘Nisarga’ is moving north-east and is likely to impact Nashik, Dhule and Nandurbar districts, which may witness heavy showers with gusty winds, an IMD official said.
Cyclone Nisarga lay centered at 1630 hrs IST of today, (Pune district) over interior Maharastra about 70 km east-northeast of Alibagh, 80 km east-southeast of Mumbai (Colaba) and 45 km northwest of Pune.
Mobile network services have been disrupted in some parts of Raigad district according to Nidhi Choudhari, District Magistrate Due to the high speed winds, many trees and electric poles fell down in Shrivardhan as well as in Alibaug
Over 40,000 people living near the sea coast in Mumbai were shifted to safer places, according to officials
Meanwhile, Manjabai Anant Navale (65), resident of Vahagaon village in Khed tehsil, died as a wall of her house collapsed and tin sheets on the roof were blown away in the wind. “Three other members of Navale family also sustained injuries.
They have been shifted to a hospital in Chakan,” said a senior district official. Prakash Mokar (52), a resident of Mokarwadi in Haveli tehsil, also died after the roof of his house was blown away and he was injured while trying to catch the tin sheets, said an officer from the District Disaster Management Cell.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are deployed in the two states; of which 21 are in Maharashtra and 16 are in Gujarat. Nearly 1 lakh people have been evacuated from the cyclone spot: SN Pradhan, NDRF Director General.
Forty-three teams of National Disaster Response Force or NDRF have been deployed in areas expected to be affected along Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts. One NDRF team consists of 45 personnel. “The evacuation is nearly complete.
Those in shelters are being trained for life skills and social distancing is being ensured. All preparations are in order. Let’s hope we safely ride through the cyclone,” NDRF chief Pradhan said in a video message this afternoon. In Maharashtra, more than 40,000 people have been moved to safety, news agency PTI reported.
Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has put out a list of dos and don’ts for citizens, urging them to stay away from windows, check for gas leaks and keep mobile phones charged.
“Dial 1916 and Press 4 for any cyclone-related questions. Ignore rumours, stay calm, don’t panic,” the BMC said. The Banda-Worli sea link in the city has been closed for traffic and rescue teams are on standy near coasts.
A storm surge – as high as two metres (three to 6.5 feet) above the astronomical tide – was predicted by the IMD. The weather department predicted heavy rain and flooding in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Palghar.
Thanking all who protected Maharashtra along with Mumbai in the face of the Nisarga cyclone which had hovered over Maharashtra at a time when the state is already grappling with COVID-19. But we all warded it (the cyclone crisis) off. The people and administration fought hard and mitigated the intensity of the crisis,” the chief minister said.
(Bureau Report with Agency Inputs).
