Maharashtra on alert for ‘cyclone’ Nisarga

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 1

The ‘depression’ over east-central and adjoining south-east Arabian Sea has moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during the past six hours and is expected to intensify into a “severe cyclone” on June 3, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Monday.

The IMD expects it to make a landfall as ‘severe cyclone’ on June 3. The areas that are expected to be affected the most are the coastal parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts  

If and when it intensifies into a cyclone, it will be called Nisarga as pre the set protocol of nomenclature for tropical storms in the Indian Ocean region.

A yellow alert was issued for north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts on Monday.

“As per our assessment, it may make a landfall as severe cyclone around the afternoon of June 3. The effect is expected to be more on the Maharashtra coast, Mumbai, Thane, Raigarh, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts,” said IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra    

Currently the “depression” is around 340 km southwest of Panjim (Goa), 630 km south-southwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra) and 850 km south southwest of Surat (Gujarat).

It is “very likely to intensify into a ‘deep depression’ during the next six hours and further into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours”, IMD said.

It is “very likely to move nearly northwards initially till the morning of June 2 and then re-curve north northeastwards and cross north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts between Harihareshwar (Raigad, Maharashtra) and Daman during the afternoon of June 3,” it added.

“It is expected to make a landfall with a speed of 90 to 105 kmph as severe cyclone. The IMD is watching closely and has alerted the Central and State government agencies. We are keeping a close watch. Low lying areas may be inundation and there could be structural damage. More detailed assessments are being made,” Mohapatra said.

Incidentally after it dissipates, there could be a lull in the monsoon progress 

Meanwhile under its influence heavy to very heavy falls very likely over Konkan and Goa on June 2 and June 3; Light to moderate rainfall are also expected at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places over north Madhya Maharashtra on June 3 and 4

Light to moderate rainfall are also likely at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls very likely over south Gujarat state, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli on June 3 and heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places over south Gujarat state, Daman, Diu, Dadra and  Nagar Haveli

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.