Zeenews Bureau
Mumbai/Ahmedabad/Panaji: Even as cyclonic storm
'Phyan' crossed the western coast on Wednesday evening sparing
Maharashtra and Goa, there were heavy rains and all
educational institutions and offices in Mumbai were closed as
a precautionary measure.
"The cyclonic storm has crossed the coast between
Alibaug and Mumbai at 1530-1630 hours and will further move
towards north and north east. It is expected to weaken within
the next six hours," IMD (Mumbai) Director Sati Devi said.
Though there was no need for panic, the Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) has undertaken rescue operations
in coastal and low-lying areas evacuating nearly 10,000 people
as a precautionary measure. They have been accomodated in
BMC-run schools in the city," Additional Municipal
Commissioner R A Rajeev told reporters.
According to an Ahmedabad report, around 400 fishermen
were stranded in the Arabian Sea about 40 nautical miles off
the Daman coast in south Gujarat.
Abhilasha Agarwal, an official of the state's
fisheries department, said the fishermen in 60 boats had left
the shores two days ago before the cyclone warning was issued.
A Panaji report quoting Menino Alfonso, chairperson of
'Mandovi Fisheries Corporation', said nearly 200 men in about
30 fishing trawlers were also missing.
Earlier, the Phyan was positioned about 180 km south-southwest of Mumbai and 430 km south-southwest of Surat. Gale winds speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph were likely along and off Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts.
Sea condition will be high to very high over along and off Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts.
Storm surge of about 1 meter above the tide level is likely in Alibagh, Raigarh, Greater Mumbai and Thane and Valsad in Gujarat at the time of landfall.
The cyclone is said to be of moderate level of 6. The highest level is 9. The Met Dept has issued the orange alert which is one level less than the red alert. The next update is due at 17:30 hrs today.
Fearing the cyclone, several flights to Mumbai have been delayed by 30-40 minutes in Mumbai due to bad weather. Mumbai last witnessed a cyclonic storm in the year 1982.
Erratic but heavy rain has also been reported from Pune, Sindhudurg, Jalgaon and Ratnagiri. Goa and Northern Karnataka have been receiving heavy rains since yesterday.
Coast Guards have rescued 8 fishermen in Daman using Helicopter. As many as 700 fishermen and 60 boast had left for sea from Daman four days ago.
Some fishermen have also been rescued from Ratnagiri, while Navy helicopters were used to evacuate people from Bombay High.