Mumbai Braces For Cyclone Nisarga Amidst COVID-19 Crisis
Mumbai is bracing itself for the impact of a cyclonic storm heading its way from the Arabian Sea. A depression in the Arabian Sea could intensify and turn into a cyclone, Nisarga which is expected to make a landfall north of Mumbai with high intensity.
The city, already in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, is on a red alert along with other coastal parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat which are likely to be the most affected states. The depression which is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm named Nisarga could impact coastal areas which are on high alert. Currently, it is around 500 km away from the Maximum City. Once it becomes turns into a cyclonic storm Mumbai is likely to get heavily impacted since the landfall is likely to be close to the metropolis.
The depression over the Arabian Sea is set to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the next 12 hours and is expected to cross the north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts by Wednesday afternoon according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Depression over Eastcentral Arabian Sea lay near latitude 14.4°N and longitude 71.2°E about 300 km west-southwest of Panjim, 550 km south-southwest of Mumbai and 770 km south-southwest of Surat, as per IMD update at 2.30 AM today: Govt of India pic.twitter.com/a58SnwmvKb
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2020
Depression to intensify into a Deep Depression by afternoon&intensify further into a Cyclonic Storm over Eastcentral Arabian Sea during next 12 hrs.Very likely to cross north Maharashtra&south Gujarat coasts b/w Harihareshwar&Daman tomorrow afternoon:Govt of India#NisargaCyclone pic.twitter.com/b6JVIWOntA
— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2020
Cyclone Nisarga's impact is expected to be felt intensely in Mumbai and also in Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts of Maharashtra as per the forecast of IMD. Palghar district is likely to be the worst affected in Maharashtra.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed along the coastline in Maharashtra for rescue and relief operations.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture out into the sea over the next two days. Morning walkers have also been advised to stay away from beaches.
Chief ministers of both states, Uddhav Thackeray in Maharashtra and Vijay Rupani in Gujarat have held meetings with senior officials, reviewed the situation and the required preparedness ahead of the likely landfall.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a video conference with chief ministers of both states, Uddhav Thackeray and Vijay Rupani. The Maharashtra Chief Minister told the Union Home Minister that he had directed officials to shift people from low-lying areas to safer locations.
Maharashtra and Gujarat have been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of cyclone Nisarga would add to the difficulties of authorities battling the coronavirus crisis. Rain and inundation could impact social distancing and other steps at evacuation centres, and possibly at some of the COVID-19 facilities which are located in low-lying areas.