At least six people have died as Cyclone Tauktae lashed the coastal regions in Kerala, Karnataka and Goa with high-speed wind, heavy rains and high tidal waves. The cyclone has intensified with each passing hour; it has crossed Goa and is approaching the resort town of Ratnagiri to the north. Lifeguards have been deployed near the sea, and other officials have been vigilant for what may come around the place. “Our teams including lifeguards are deployed near the sea. We’ve trimmed all huge trees & police are patroling”, said Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar told ANI.

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Cyclone Tauktae, pronounced as Tau’Te, brought a spell of rainfall in Goa earlier on Sunday and is expected to reach the Gujarat coast by May 18. Two people died in Kerala on Sunday due to the cyclone, with at least four more dead in Karnatka, ANI reported.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the cyclonic storm would intensify. The coastal regions in Gujarat and Diu are currently under watch. It is expected to have a heavy downpour in Mumbai from Sunday afternoon, said Shubhani Bhute, a senior director of weather in IMD, Mumbai to News 18.

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The IMD issued an orange alert, meaning the possibility of heavy to very heavy downpour, over Konkan and other hilly regions of western parts of Maharashtra, especially in Satara and Kohlapur on Sunday and Monday, said Bhute. 

“Cyclone Tauktae is very likely to intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours and intensify further. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the morning of 18th and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya around 18th May Afternoon/evening,” the IMD wrote on Twitter on Sunday.