Mumbai unscathed as Nisarga weakens into cyclonic storm

Severe cyclonic storm Nisarga, which made landfall near Maharashtra’s Raigarh around 12.30 pm on Wednesday (June 3), weakened into a cyclonic storm in the evening before moving northeastwards towards Nashik.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm lay centred about 100 km east-northeast of Alibagh, 90 km east of Mumbai and 65 km north-northwest of Pune around 6.30 pm.

Earlier, it made landfall at Alibaug in Maharashtra’s Raigad district and is likely to impact Nashik, Dhule, and Nandurbar districts, which may witness heavy showers with gusty winds, an IMD official said.

The cyclone, which moved to Alibaugh, 140 km from Mumbai, around 1.30 pm on Wednesday (June 3) barrelled through Mumbai and neighbouring areas at a wind speed of 120 kmph, bringing heavy rain and uprooting trees and electricity poles.

Maharashtra: A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at work in Alibaug, Raigad district. #CycloneNisarga
(source: NDRF) pic.twitter.com/5KIHcrQfDT

— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2020

A 53-year-old man died in Alibaugh, after an electric pole fell on him, according to the latest reports.

According to a tweet by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) chief SN Pradhan, strong winds raging at 93 km per hour were reported from Alibaugh after the cyclone moved into the area.

Low-lying areas of Pune remained inundated as rains lashed the city due to the effect of the cyclone. Alibaugh recorded 102 mm rainfall while Colaba in Mumbai recorded 33 mm.

The cyclone, which is travelling at a speed of 20 kmph with wind speed ranging between 85-95 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph is slated to weaken in the next six hours. According to the latest reports (3.30 pm), the storm now lay 70 km southeast of Mumbai and 60 km west of Pune and is set to move westwards and head towards Nashik and then north Madhya Pradesh before weakening.

Related News: Cyclone Nisarga: FedEx cargo flight skids off runway on landing at Mumbai airport

No major damage has been reported from Mumbai, which was predicted to be severely hit by the cyclone. Movement of people in public places like beaches or parks has been restricted by the government.

Flight operations at the Mumbai airport, which were suspended at 2.30 pm, resumed at 6 pm instead of 7 pm, a spokesperson of GVK said.

MIAL, the private airport operator, had earlier announced that all operations at the CSMIA will remain suspended between 2.30 pm and 7 pm as a precautionary measure in view of the cyclone Nisarga.

#WATCH Tin roof atop a building in #Raigad blown away due to strong winds as #CycloneNisarga lands along #Maharashtra coast (Source: NDRF) pic.twitter.com/INlim5VG1c

— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2020

According to reports 43 teams of NDRF have been deployed in areas along the Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts while the Indian Navy is on the standby to conduct rescue and relief operations.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has instructed the Mumbai administration to ensure immediate rescue work after the cyclone moves towards Thane.

No major impact or casualties were reported from Gujrat, which was also on high alert.

“Wind speed remained normal in Valsad and Navsari districts, located close to the Arabian Sea. However, the wind speed may increase up to 60 to 70 kmph in the next three hours as the cyclone is moving towards north-east Maharashtra,” state Relief Commissioner Harshad Patel told reporters.

Apart from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Havel have also been put on high alert.

In Maharashtra, more than 40,000 people were evacuated and moved to safe places.

Earlier in the day, the Mumbai municipality put out a list of dos and don’ts for citizens during the cyclone. The weatherman had predicted rain and flooding in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Palghar.