Taukate Cyclone: IMD Issues Alerts For 5 Coastal States

New Delhi: With Taukate Cyclone set to intensify in Arabian Sea, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for the five coastal regions of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Taukate is expected to make landfall between May 17 and 18 in the coasts of Gujarat.

In its bulletin, the IMD said that the depression formed over Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea would turn into a cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours. It is likely to intensify into a ‘severe cyclonic storm’ on May 17 and ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ on May 18 . There will be gale wind speed reaching 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph over northeast Arabian Sea in the morning of May 18 along and off Saurashtra and Kutch coasts (Devbhumi Dwarka & Porbandar).

The wind speed of 120 -150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph over Kutch, Porbandar, Junagarh, Jamnagar districts of Gujarat will continue in the afternoon for 6 hours.

Sea conditions will be rough over Comorin area and along the coast of Kerala on May 15 , very rough to High over east central Arabian Sea along and off the coast of Karnataka coast on May 15 May and Maharashtra – Goa coasts on May 15-16.

The fishermen are advised not to venture into southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep – Maldives areas, east central Arabian Sea along & off Karnataka coast, east central Arabian Sea and along and off Maharashtra – Goa coasts and into east central and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea along and off Gujarat coast till May 18.