The India Meteorological Department has stated that Cyclone Tauktae is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours. A very severe cyclonic storm is likely to move north-northwestward and reach the Gujarat coast in the evening hours and cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva during the night as the storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.
Due to cyclone alerts, the Mumbai Airport has announced that it will temporarily close its operations from 11.00 am to 2 pm on 17th May 2021.
News agency ANI tweeted: “Due to cyclone alert, Mumbai Airport operations need to be closed from 1100 hours to 1400 hours of 17th May: MIAL #CycloneTauktae”
The Bandra–Worli Sea Link in South Mumbai will also remain shut. BMC shared the news on its Twitter handle and wrote: “Dear Mumbaikars, Bandra-Worli sea link will be closed to commute till further update. Please take alternate routes if at all you plan to move out. The best plan however is to stay indoors today unless it’s absolutely unavoidable #CycloneTauktae”
On Monday, the IMD said that the Cyclone Tauktae has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the East-central Arabian Sea, moved North-Northwestwards with a speed of about 20 kmph during the past six hours and further intensified into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm.”
Stay tuned to The Live Mirror for more updates.
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