Powerful cyclonic storm Tauktae is expected to make landfall over India’s Gujarat state coast during the early hours of Tuesday, with wind speeds of up to 175 kmph (109 mph). India has started evacuating thousands of people from low-lying areas along its western coast.
“It is very likely to intensify further during the 24 hours, and move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening of 17th (May),” the India Meteorological Department said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The Financial Times is reporting that the National
Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has already formed 100 relief and rescue teams and they are being deployed in the coastal regions of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Rescue and relief teams from the army, navy and coast guard along with ships and aircraft have also been deployed. “All measures being taken to evacuate people in the areas affected by the cyclone so as to ensure zero loss of life,” the government said in a statement.
One of the big challenges facing the Indian government is in dealing with the high case load of COVID-19 patients. In a statement, Gujarat’s Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani asked officials to ensure that electricity supply to COVID-19 hospitals and other medical facilities is not disrupted while oxygen supply is being maintained.
In the neighbouring state of Maharashtra, the government has moved COVID-19 patients admitted to makeshift centres in the state capital, Mumbai, to other hospitals as the cyclone advances towards Gujarat, the chief minister’s office said.
Gujarat is also home to some of India’s largest refineries and seaports. The Jamnagar refinery, the world’s biggest oil refinery complex, owned by Reliance Industries, is “taking all precautions,” a company spokesperson told Reuters.
And at Kandla Port, the largest government-run port in the country, authorities there are saying steps have been taken to evacuate around 5,000 people from low lying areas.
“We have already issued an advisory, and have stopped taking any vessels inside. There will be no berthing tomorrow morning, and all vessels will be sent to the high seas,” S.K. Mehta, chairman of Kandla Port, said.
