Cyclone Tauktae, which has now intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, is moving towards the north-northwest and is expected to reach the Gujarat coast by May 18, and bring heavy rainfall to some region. The cyclone Tauktae, which is pronounced as Tau’Te, is currently crossing Goa and has brought a spell of rainfall in the state. 

“The SCS “Tauktae” intensified into a VSCS, lay centred at 0230 hrs IST of 16th May about 150 km southwest of Panjim-Goa, 490 km south of Mumbai, 730 km SSWest of Veraval (Gujarat). cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) around 18th May early morning,” the IMD said on Sunday morning. The cyclone comes at a time when India is battling a lethal second wave of COVID-19. 

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Here is all you need to know about the Tauktae:

Cyclone Tauktae on Sunday intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm

Goa is witnessing heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Tauktae, as electricity supply has been affected in many parts of the coastal state. NDRF teams have been deployed in the state, a control room has been set up

Cyclone Tauktae hit Karnataka on Saturday. The state home minister said that two NDRF and three SDRF teams have been deployed while 1,000 people are working around round the clock in three coastal districts of the state, ANI reported. 

In a high-level meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed the preparedness of states, central ministries and agencies concerned to deal with the situation arising out of cyclone Tauktae. The PM has asked them to take every possible measure to safely evacuate people.

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NDRF has deployed 100 teams in the coastal regions of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa, and Maharashtra. Each NDRF team has a strength of a total of 47 personnel and, hence, the total manpower identified for the task is 4,700 rescuers.

16 transport aircraft and 18 helicopters operations are ready by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in preparation for the cyclone. Meanwhile, Indian Railways has cancelled or short terminated some trains.

Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has shifted 580 patients from COVID care centres in the city as a precautionary measure for the cyclone.