In the wake of Cyclone Tuktae, the operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will remain suspended atleast till 6pm on Monday in view of the cyclone alert.
Besides, Bandra-Worli sea link in Mumbai will also remain closed to commute till the further update. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has asked commuters to take alternate routes. Mumbai Monorail is also shut. Temporary shelters have been set up across the city.
Local trains services of the Central Railway were disrupted between suburban Ghatkopar and Vikhroli as a tree branch fell on a train heading towards neighbouring Thane, a railway spokesperson said.
Cyclone Tauktae – an ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’ – is “very likely” to make landfall in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar between 10 and 11 pm, with winds up to 165 km per hour.
Around 25,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas between Porbandar and Mahuva in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar. Across the state more than 1.5 lakh have been shifted. Massive damage – to power and communication lines, disruption to railway lines and signaling systems and to salt pans and crops – is expected in Porbandar, Amreli, Junagarh, Gir Somnath, Botad and coastal Ahmedabad.
Updated: May 17, 2021 8:30 pm IST
More than 55 flights, both incoming and outbound, were cancelled at the city’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Monday after the private airport operator was forced to suspend all air services at 11 am due to cyclone ”Tauktae”.
These cancellations apart, some seven incoming flights were also diverted to various airports.
The CSMIA for the fourth time in the day extended the closure of operations till 10 pm after first announcing that the airport will remain closed for three hours, starting 11 am.
Updated: May 17, 2021 10:40 pm IST
Cyclone Tauktae heads to Gujarat
“The (Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm) Tauktae lies close to Gujarat coast. The landfall process started and will continue during next 02 hours,” the Indian Meteorological Department tweeted.
The major ports and airports have been shut in Gujarat as the most powerful cyclone in more than two decades roared up the west coast. Barring the Rajkot airport, which will remain shut for flights till May 19, other three major airports – Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara – will remain closed for both domestic and international flights till Tuesday, officials said.
The cyclone has left a trail of destruction as it brushed past the coastal states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, the authorities said.
This is a developing story. Stay with us for further updates.
Source : NDTV | Photo : Shutterstock
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