Mrunal Jadhav
Mumbai, May 17, 2021: Mumbai is receiving heavy rainfall on Monday due to Cyclone Tauktae. Hundreds of trees uprooted and fell in many places due to the strong wind. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on the situation. Due to the rain in Mumbai, people are facing problems as water is filled everywhere. Due to heavy rains and winds, trees and lightning poles were uprooted near the Shiv Sena building in Mumbai.
NCP leader Nawab Malik said that the Maharashtra government has been cautious about the storm for the last three days. The state disaster management is working 24 hours. All districts have been ordered to be vigilant. It is raining continuously and strong winds are blowing. BKC Covid Center has been temporarily closed. 193 patients of which 73 patients were in ICU have been shifted to various hospitals. Earlier on Sunday, two sisters were killed while a woman was injured when a tree fell on the hut due to the strong wind.
The District Magistrate of Palghar said that citizens are requested that due to the storm the wind blowing is very strong and heavy rainfall will take place. A high alert has been announced in the district and the people with the temporary house should go to Zilla Parishad schools. Significantly, the storm had hit the Arabian Sea, on Sunday wreaking havoc in the coastal areas of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa. Hundreds of houses were destroyed by rain and strong winds. Thousands of people had to take shelter in safe places. At least six people died in storm-related accidents.
The Coastguard, Navy and Air Force along with 101 teams of NDRF are ready to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and administrators of Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli to discuss preparations for rescue. He instructed them to make special arrangements for the safety of the Covid hospitals and oxygen plant during the storm and to keep an adequate stock of oxygen. At the same time, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba also reviewed the preparations after meeting the National Crisis Management Committee.
Due to heavy rains in Kerala due to the Tauktae, the water level in many dams will increase in the state. The state administration has been alerted to the potential danger. One person lost his life in Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Shimoga in Karnataka. More than 70 villages in seven districts have been affected by the storm. In many places houses, trees and electric poles have collapsed. In Goa, strong winds gusted on Sunday morning. Due to rain and storm, electric poles and trees fell in many places; power supply came to a standstill in many areas. In Gujarat, 1.5 lakh people living in the lower coastal areas have been evacuated to safer places. Winds may increase further by Tuesday morning.