Cyclone Tauktae intensifies into cyclonic storm, warns IMD

Cyclone Warning Division of India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings over Cyclone Tauktae. It said that, between May16 to May 19, the Arabian sea depression is very likely to intensify into a “very severe cyclonic storm” with a wind speed of 150-160 kilometres per hour gusting up to 175 kmph. The department predicted that It is likely to reach Gujarat coast by the morning of May 18.

As per media reports, after the cyclonic warning the National Disaster Response Force has deployed several teams on ground for Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. In view of the severity of the cyclone there is  a red alert in five districts of , which includes Kerala Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamitta and Ernakulam and National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in affected areas of the state. Mumbai and Thane where the effect of the storm is expected to be felt over the weekend, have been put under the yellow category storm warning by the IMD. Mumbai has suspended its vaccination drive on Saturday and Sunday due to the cyclone warning. 

Due to the adverse conditions, Vistara and IndiGo have issued a travel advisory, stating that their flight operations are likely to be affected. In its travel advisory, Vistara informed that flights to and from Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Goa and Ahmedabad might be impacted till 17 May. Also, IndiGo flights to and from Kerala’s Kannur will be impacted. News agency ANI reported that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has said there is no immediate plan to shut airports, because of lack of clarity about areas that will be “most affected” due to the cyclone Tauktae.

Cyclone Tauktae, is currently centred over Lakshadweep. The name Tauktae was suggested by Myanmar. It’s a Burmese word, which means gecko, a “highly vocal lizard”.

(Inputs from ANI)