Cyclone Nisarga which turned from a deep depression over the arabian sea into a storm, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on wednesday morning and is expected to cross Alibag, 94 km south of mumbai this afternoon with a wind speed of 100-110 kmh gusting to 120 kmh. The severe cyclone is expected to make its landfall anytime between 1 pm and 4 pm. A red alert has been declared in mumbai, country's financial capital, which is among the places that are expected to take a hit from Cyclone Nisarga. Meanwhile indian Meteorological Department said that, "Severe cyclonic storm is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross north maharashtra and adjoining south gujarat coast between Harihareshwar and Daman, close to Alibagh (Raigad district, Maharashtra) during the afternoon of today, the 3rd june as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph."
NDRF director general SN Pradhan speaking to a news agency said that, "NDRF teams conducted evacuation at Sathipads, Daneida, Manglawada villages near Dahanh coastal areas of Maharashtra." Nearly 1 lakh people including coronavirus patients were being moved to safety. The Navy has kept five flood teams and three diving teams on stand-by in Mumbai. The financial capital is one of the worst-hit COVID-19 cities and is now getting more affected with the cyclone Nisarga.
According to the india Meteorological Department’s (IMD) 8.00 AM bulletin, the cyclone lay 140 km south-southwest of Alibagh (Maharashtra), 190 km south-southwest of mumbai and 415 km south-southwest of surat (Gujarat).Mumbai experienced moderate rainfall of 20 mm to 40 mm, while there was light rainfall in other parts of the city in the last 10 hours. Ratnagiri recorded 55 kmph at 08:30 am. harsh vardhan, minister of Earth Sciences stated that, "Heavy rainfalls likely over coastal karnataka, goa, maharashtra and gujarat in the next few hours." Union minister of Earth Sciences advised people to remain indoors but mobilise evacuation from low lying areas. He also advised fishermen to suspend operations and not to venture into east-central and northeast arabian sea and along & off Karnataka-Goa-Maharashtra-south gujarat coast.
