Cyclone Tauktae brought heavy rains and high-speed winds to Mumbai disrupting local trains and uprooting trees in the financial capital. The cyclone, which headed towards Gujarat, is a ‘very severe cyclonic storm.’

Looking at the severity of the cyclone, the Bandra-World sea-link was closed and people were asked to travel through alternate routes, a senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said, reported news agency PTI.

Also Read: Cyclone Tauktae ‘extremely severe’, expected to hit Gujarat tonight

A wind speed of 102 kilometres per hour was recorded at south Mumbai’s Colaba area around 11 am, which was the highest noted wind speed so far, Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) senior director Shubhangi Bhute said. 

79.4 mm rainfall was registered in the morning hours between 8.30 to 11 am by the Colaba (south Mumbai) IMD observatory, while the Santacruz (suburbs) observatory recorded 44.5 mm rain, Bhute added. 

Local trains were disrupted between suburban Ghatkopar and Vikhroli for about half-an-hour, as a tree fell on an overhead wire while a train was moving towards Thane, a railway spokesperson said. 

Due to strong winds, plastics sheets that were covering the roof of the common passenger area at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus were blown away in the morning, he added. 

Also Read: List of dos and don’ts to follow while preparing for Cyclone Tauktae

The Mumbai police tweeted that the Andheri subway was closed temporarily for commute due to water logging. The city police appealed Mumbaikars to stay indoors. 

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority said that they closed the monorail services in the city for the day. MMRDA added, It was a “prompt decision” taken for the safety of commuters.

Also Read: Cyclone Taukate kills 6 on battered west coast; to hit Gujarat on May 18

Earlier in the morning, KS Hosalilar, head SID, Climate Research & Services, IMD Pune in a tweet said, “#TauktaeCyclone. Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm now.

The IMD forecast moderate to intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 90-100 kmph are likely to occur at isolated places in Raigad, Palghar, Mumbai, Thane and Ratnagiri districts.

According to civic officials, around 34 incidents of tree fall were reported in Mumbai since Sunday, but there was no report of any injury to anyone.

Also Read: Cyclone Tauktae may cause serious loss to mango crops, farmers fear in Gujarat

According to civic officials, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indian Navy were on alert as Cyclone Tauktae intensified to a very severe cyclonic storm and was passing close to Mumbai. Six flood rescue teams of the Mumbai fire brigade were deployed and five temporary shelters were kept ready in 24 civic wards.