ISLAMABAD: A major cyclone packing ferocious winds and threatening a destructive storm surge bore down on COVID-stricken India on Monday, while Pakistan’s metrological department said none of the country’s coastal areas were under threat.
Nearly 150,000 people were moved from their homes in the Indian state of Gujarat to safety on Monday and authorities closed ports and a main airport as the most intense cyclone in more than two decades roared up the country's west coast.
Police and rescue personnel evacuate local residents from a flooded house in a coastal area after heavy rains under the influence of cyclone 'Tauktae' in Kochi, India, on May 14, 2021. (AFP)
Cyclone Tauktae has killed at least 12 people and left a trail of destruction as it brushed past the coastal states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, Indian authorities said.
“None of the Pakistan coastal area is under threat, however under its influence, dust/thunderstorm-rain with few moderate to heavy falls and gusty winds of 40-60 Kmph [kilometers per hour] are likely to occur in Tharparker, Umerkot & Sanghar districts and at isolated places of Badin district during 17- 19 May 2021,” the Pakistan metrological department said. “Mirpurkhas and Tando Allahyar districts may receive moderate rainfall accompanied with gusty winds of 25-30 kmph.”
“Very hot & dry weather with occasional gusty winds likely to continue in Karachi, Hyderabad, Shaeed- Banzirabad, Badin & Thatta districts till tomorrow,” the department said. “The gusty wind may affect the fruit orchid of above stated areas. Sea Conditions will remain rough to very rough and fishermen of Sindh are advised to suspend their activities till 19 May 2021.”
"This will be the most severe cyclone to hit Gujarat in at least 20 years. This can be compared with the 1998 cyclone that hit Kandla and inflicted heavy damage," Indian state revenue secretary Pankaj Kumar told Reuters.
The 1998 cyclone killed at least 4,000 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, media reported at the time.
Cyclone Tauktae increases pressure on local administrations already struggling with a high caseload of COVID-19 infections.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) categorized the storm, which formed in the Arabian Sea, as an "extremely severe" storm, upgrading it from the "very severe" category.
