Meanwhile, Prime Minister held a high level meeting to review preparedness on Cyclone ‘Tauktae’. He directed senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated.
Moving towards Gujarat
Cyclonic storm Tauktae has intensified and is heading towards the coast of Gujarat and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, though it could bring gusty winds and showers to Mumbai, the IMD said on Saturday.
The cyclonic storm is very likely to intensify further into a “very severe cyclonic storm” by late Saturday night, the India Meteorological Department said, adding it was very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya around May 18.
As it would bring very heavy rainfall in that region, cities like Mumbai would not be affected much, the IMD added.
There will be strong winds and heavy rainfall at isolated places on May 17 over north Konkan, including Mumbai, the met department said.
PM holds high level meeting
PM Narendra Modi took a high level meeting today to review the preparedness of States and Central Ministries/Agencies concerned to deal with the situation arising out of Cyclone ‘Tauktae’.
It was discussed that Cabinet Secretary is in continuous touch with Chief Secretaries of all the Coastal States and Central Ministries/ Agencies concerned, the PMO said.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is reviewing the situation 24*7 and is in touch with the State Governments/ UTs and the Central Agencies concerned. MHA has already released first instalment of SDRF in advance to all States. NDRF has pre-positioned 42 teams which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipments etc. in six States and has kept 26 teams on standby,.
Cyclone Tauktae hits Karnataka coast
Cyclone Tauktae has hit the Karnataka coast, said the state’s Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai. He said that two NDRF teams are…