Cyclone Tauktae LIVE Updates: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Likely To Intensify Further, Warns Weather Office

Cyclone Tauktae Updates: Weather Office DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra informed that cyclone Tauktae is very likely to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district around the early morning of May 18.

Cyclone Tauktae is expected to intensify the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned, as the "very severe" storm hurtled towards Gujarat, leaving behind a trail of destruction. It will make landfall between Porbandar and Mahuva on Tuesday, unleashing rapid wind.  An estimated 1.5 lakh people are being shifted from low-lying coastal areas in Gujarat while 54 teams of the NDRF and SDRF remained deployed on Sunday in view of the IMD's warning that the very severe cyclonic storm Tauktae will reach the state coast on Monday evening and cross it on early Tuesday morning. The government has asked hospitals treating COVID-19 patients to ensure a power backup and arrangements are also being made to ensure uninterrupted generation of medical oxygen in the eight manufacturing units and its supply. Armed Forces are also kept on standby to deal with any eventuality. Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the preparedness for Cyclone Tauktae in Gujarat, Maharashtra and two Union territories on Sunday and "specifically" stressed that all health facilities, including those for COVID-19 treatment, falling in the affected areas should be secured along with the patients