PM Speaks With Uddhav Thackeray As Cyclone Tauktae Batters Coastal Maharashtra

Cyclone Tauktae forced over 12,000 citizens to be relocated to safer places from Maharashtras coastal areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take stock of the situation in the state in the backdrop of Cyclone Tauktae sweeping the coastal regions of the state. The gale has by now intensified into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm”, according to the weather department, and is likely to reach the Gujarat coast today evening. The Prime Minister also called up Chief Ministers of Gujarat and Goa, besides the Lieutenant Governor of Daman & Diu, to discuss the preparation and response to the storm. At around 2.30 pm, the cyclone lay about 165 kilometres west-northwest of Mumbai and 130 kilometres south-southeast of Diu. It was expected to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva, east of Diu tonight between 10 pm and 11 pm, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. On Monday, Mumbaikars woke up witnessing gusty winds and heavy showers due to the cyclone. Many Mumbaikars are enjoying the change in weather amid the coronavirus pandemic. The city continued to be battered by heavy rains through the day.