Cyclone Nisarga: Mumbai and adjoining districts put on alert

The Maharashtra government on Monday sounded an alert in Mumbai and neighbouring districts in view of the approaching cyclonic storm Nisarg which is expected to hit the states coast on June 3 Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray through video conference and took stock of the states preparedness to tackle any eventuality the latters office saidMumbai Fishermen return from the sea as they have been cautioned by the authorities not to venture out at sea in view of impending adverse weather Visuals from Mahim Beach CycloneNisarga pictwittercomKw5xR7bSrFmdash ANI ANI June 2 2020Ten units of the National Disaster Response Force NDRF have been deployed in vulnerable districts while six others have been kept on a standby officials said Steps are being taken to ensure there is no disruption of power supply at a time when the state is battling the coronavirus crisis and thousands of patients are undergoing treatment in various hospitals they said Adequate precautions are being taken to safeguard chemical and atomic energy plants located in coastal Palghar and Raigad districts Thackeray in a statement said an alert has been sounded in Mumbai city Mumbai suburban district Thane Palghar Raigad Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts in view of the cyclonic storm developing in the Arabian SeaMaharashtra National Disaster Response Force NDRF teams deployed in Palghar conduct survey in the district and take stock of the situation in view of impending severe cyclone pictwittercomUba1CDerAcmdash ANI ANI June 2 2020The state Disaster Management and Relief and Rehabilitation department is also geared up to face the cyclone he said Fishermen have been asked to come back from the sea and respective district collectors have been asked to ensure there is no loss of life the statement said Shah held a discussion with Thackeray on video conference to take stock of the states preparedness Thackeray apprised Shah about the situation and steps being taken to tackle it a statement from the Chief Ministers Office CMO said Shah told Thackeray NDRF battalions from neighbouring states have been kept on a standby for relief and rescue operations if required the statement said Thackeray said shelter homes are being kept ready for those who are required to be shifted to safer places it said The Coast Guard has been asked to ensure fishermen come back from the sea In lowlying areas of Mumbai slumdwellers will be shifted to safer places NonCOVID hospitals will be made available for those needing medical assistanceWATCH Indian Coast Guard ships aircraft amp shore stations continuously relaying warnings about impending adverse weather to merchant vessels amp fishermen Indian Coast Guard ICG 01062020 pictwittercomUjUyOjzhxFmdash ANI ANI June 2 2020Thackeray asked authorities to examine if field hospitals can be shifted to safer places He also asked for generators to be kept in hospitals so that patients do not suffer in case of disruption in power supply The India Meteorological Department IMD on Monday said the lowpressure area formed over the Arabian Sea has intensified into a depression and it will further intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 36 hours It said the the cyclonic storm will cross north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts late in the evening on June 3 Meanwhile Palghar district collector Kailas Shinde on Monday asked fishermen not to venture into the seat A similar warning was issued by his Thane counterpart Rajesh NarvekarAddressing a news conference Shinde said a total of 577 fishing boats had gone out in the sea of which 100 are yet to return Efforts were on to get them back with the help of the Coast Guard Shinde said He said talukas of Vasai Dahanu and Palghar have been put on an alert and those living near the coast in kutcha houses would be evacuated and lodged in safer places as a precautionary measures He said two companies of the NDRF have arrived in Palghar district Some industries will remain closed on June 3 he said Shinde also released helpline numbers to be contacted in case of any emergency during the cyclone These numbers are 02525297474025252520208329439902 In Thane district too one company of the NDRF has deployedCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever