Mumbai and neighbouring districts have been placedon high alert as cyclonic storm "Nisarga" is expected to hit theMaharashtra coast on Wednesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke toMaharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray through video conferencing andreviewed the state's preparedness, the Chief Minister's office said.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said thatit has positioned nine teams in vulnerable districts – three in Mumbai, two inPalghar, one in Thane, one in Raigad, one in Ratnagiri and one in Sindhudurg.The NDRF is in close contact with the Maharashtra government's relief and rehabilitationdepartment, the met office authorities and district administrations. NDRF teamsare carrying out survey in coastal areas of these districts along with localauthorities.
NDRF Director-General S N Pradhan said, "Nisargais a severe cyclone and we're expecting a wind speed of 90-100 kmph, which Ithink is negotiable. Still, as a precautionary measure, we are going to startthe evacuation of people from the coastal areas of the two states (Maharashtraand Gujarat) soon adding that steps are being taken to ensure there is nodisruption of power supply at a time when the state is battling the coronaviruscrisis and thousands of patients are undergoing treatment in various hospitals.
Fishermen have been asked to come back from the seaand respective district collectors have been asked to ensure there is no lossof life, a statement from the Chief Minister's office said. Hospitals that arenot treating coronavirus patients will be made available for those needingmedical assistance, it added.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Mondaysaid the low-pressure area formed over the Arabian Sea has intensified into adepression and it will further intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 36hours.
It said the cyclonic storm will cross north Maharashtraand south Gujarat coasts late in the evening on June 3.
