Cyclone Tauktae Latest Updates: Red & Orange Alert Issued for Coastal Regions, Fishermen Asked Not to Venture into Sea

After Indian Meteorological Department’s warning about Cyclone Tauktae, Gujarat is gearing up adequately to make sure there is no casualty and set up a control room, according to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The weather office said that Cyclone Tauktae, which is expected to intensify into a "severe cyclonic storm" within 3 hours, may hit coastal areas of Gujarat by Tuesday. Gujarat & Diu coasts are under a cyclone watch.

IMD said very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall "causing flash floods & landslides" is likely over the coastal districts of Karnataka, Kerala and Goa till Sunday while Saurashtra, Kutch in Gujarat on Tuesday & Wednesday.

Red as well as orange alerts have been issued in various parts. Low-lying areas of the Islands of Lakshadweep are expected to get flooded.

Therefore, fishermen have been asked not to venture in to Arabian Sea till next Tuesday and tourism activities have been restricted in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a review meet today in the evening.

The Indian Air Force has kept sixteen transport aircraft and eighteen helicopters on op readiness in peninsular India in preparation for Cyclone Tauktae that is expected to cause very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall along the western coast of the country in the next few days.

As per reports, one IL-76 aircraft has airlifted 127 personnel & 11 tonnes of cargo from Bhatinda to Jamnagar. A C-130 aircraft has airlifted 25 personnel & 12.3 tonnes cargo from Bhatinda to Rajkot. In addition, two C-130 aircraft have airlifted 126 personnel along with 14 tonnes cargo  from Bhubaneswar to Jamnagar.

The IAF Covid relief operations have been focused in the coastal regions for the next few days, as bad weather is likely to affect air operations later.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin has instructed the administrative machinery to take all precautionary measures in the districts that are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, as per media reports.

The Central Water Commission has also issued an orange bulletin of a severe flood warning for Manimala and Achankovil rivers.