“With the impending landfall of the extremely severe cyclonic storm forecast in coastal areas of Gujarat, Indian Army units and formations have prepared themselves with substantial teams along with elements of communication and engineer task forces to provide relief and all kinds of assistance following COVID-19 protocols,” a statement read.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted that Cyclone Tauktae is expected to cause heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated parts of the state. Extremely powerful winds with speed up to 185 kilometres per hour – enough to uproot trees and electricity poles – are likely to hit Gujarat as well.

The Gujarat government has shifted over a lakh people living in coastal areas to safer places after the IMD issued warnings of tidal waves and flooding. Several places in 21 districts received light rainfall due to the cyclone. The weather office has warned that extremely heavy downpour over the southern districts of Saurashtra, Diu and Gujarat region is expected on Monday and Tuesday. It has issued an orange alert for heavy rains in Madhya Pradesh as well.

The Gujarat government has deployed teams from several departments to provide rescue and relief. Special arrangements have been made in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients to ensure uninterrupted electricity, the government said. Hundreds of ambulances have been kept on standby to shift patients in cases of emergency, news agency PTI reported. The authorities have closed ports as precaution.

The authorities in Gujarat are also concerned about the safety of Asiatic lions in the Saurashtra region. “There are around 40 lions in some patches in coastal Saurashtra, and we are monitoring them. Some lions have already moved to higher grounds. We are keeping fingers crossed, and praying the lions will be safe,” Shyamal Tikadar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Gujarat, told Reuters.  

Maharashtra has also evacuated thousands of people living in coastal areas to safety. Covid patients have also been moved to make-shift facilities. In Mumbai, Cyclone Tauktae triggered strong winds with a speed of 114 kilometres per hour. The city has been pummelled with heavy rains as well. Tides as high as 3 metres have also been noticed.

In Mumbai, flight operations at the city’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were disrupted for hours. The Bandra-Worli sea-link was closed for traffic because of strong winds, which have caused damage to many structures in the city.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take stock of the situation. He also called up Chief Ministers of Gujarat and Goa, besides the Lieutenant Governor of Daman & Diu, to discuss the preparation and response to the storm.

National Disaster Response Force chief SN Pradhan has told NDTV that doctors and medical staff have been sent to the affected states along with 100 rescue and relief teams. Only Covid-vaccinated personnel have been deployed, he added. The teams are also carrying machines that can cut through fallen trees. In cyclone shelters, social distancing and other anti-Covid rules are being enforced.

The Navy is on standby in Gujarat and was engaged in search and rescue ops in Kerala on Sunday. The Army is continuously monitoring the situation. 180 relief and rescue teams and nine Engineer Task Forces (ETFs) are on standby.