The India Meteorological Department said on Sunday that Cyclone Tauktae has strengthened into a "very strong cyclonic storm" over the East-central Arabian Sea and is very likely to escalate further over the next 12 hours.
By the morning of May 18, the cyclone will have passed through the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and will be on its way to the Gujarat coast.
Extremely heavy rainfall is being observed in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and parts of Maharashtra as a result of its influence. Transport services have been suspended in these areas, and rescue and recovery personnel are on the lookout for potential consequences.
Two people have died in Kerala as a result of torrential rains and strong tidal waves. Since Friday night, widespread tree uprooting, flooding, and power outages have become a state-wide occurrence. Given the threats associated with the current pandemic, the state government has been forced to relocate hundreds of families to relief camps.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has raised the number of teams from 53 to 100 in terms of preparedness. Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa, and Maharashtra are among the states where these teams have been deployed. Out of these, 48 will be pre-deployed, while the remaining 20 will be put on standby. A total of 32 teams will be retained as backups.
16 transport aircraft and 18 helicopters have been placed on standby by the Indian Air Force. It has also stated that it would concentrate on Covid recovery efforts in the affected coastal areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation yesterday and directed the relevant authority to take all necessary steps to ensure that people are evacuated safely.
Recent Developments on Cyclone Tauktae
Gujarat will be hit by heavy rains from May 17th
Light to moderate rainfall is expected to begin over Saurashtra's coastal districts this afternoon, with strong to very heavy falls in isolated locations over Saurashtra, Kutch, and Diu, and extremely heavy falls in isolated locations on May 17. On May 18, moderate to very heavy rain falls in a few places across Saurashtra, Kutch, and Diu, with very heavy falls (up to 20 cm) in isolated locations.
Today's rainfall in Kerala would be less intense
After being pummelling by torrential rains since Friday night, the intensity of rainfall is expected to decrease today, with mild to moderate rainfall in many areas and strong to very heavy falls in a few isolated locations.
Rajasthan's weather outlook
On Sunday, the India Meteorological Department expected light to moderate rain in many parts of Rajasthan, with strong to very heavy rain in isolated areas very likely over south Rajasthan on May 18 and 19.
Rain is expected in the Konkan and Goa areas
The Konkan and Goa will see medium to moderate rainfall at most locations today, with strong to very heavy falls in a few spots over Konkan & Goa & adjoining Ghat areas today, and heavy falls in a few spots over north Konkan on May 17, according to IMD's latest bulletin.
