Rains and strong winds hit Mumbai; 1 killed, 2 injured as portion of cladding collapses at Churchgate railway station
Sanjay Barve, Mumbai's Police Commissioner, took to
Latest Satellite & radar images of very severe cyclonic storm in Arabian sea. As per latest bulletin, it is at 290… https://t.co/AiQjJtYvIU
— K S Hosalikar (@Hosalikar_KS) 1560301821000
Authorities have take precautionary measures and warnings have been issued to regulate rail and road traffic in the city to avoid any congestion. Officials have taken all possible measures to ensure the safety of people, especially near coastal areas.
The disaster management unit of MunicipalCorporation of Greater Mumbai said, "Precaution is better than cure must have been said for a reason! So while we are here for the cure, we request Mumbaikars to take precaution on ground and the sea today. City expects strong winds and we request you to maintain safe distance from shore-line.
There will also be a cyclone of rumours today & rest of the days during monsoon. We request you to not believe in a… https://t.co/WV6QTyM4Fz
— Disaster Management Department (MCGM) (@DisasterMgmtBMC) 1560314501000
Meanwhile, as the cyclone continues to progress towards Saurashtra and Kutch regions of neighbouring Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued the "orange" warning for Gujarat in view of cyclonic storm Vayu on June 12. Click here for the detailed copy
Here are the Cyclone Vayu LIVE Updates:
8:30 pm: Ex-gratia payment of Rs five lakh has been announced by Western Railway to the family of deceased person in today's incident at
7:58 pm: Flight operations in 5 Gujarat airports to be suspended
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has decided to suspend flight operations for 24 hours at five airports in Gujarat, Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod, and Kandla, from midnight to avoid inconvinience to passengers and ensure safety in the wake of cyclone Vayu.
7:30 pm: CM Devendra Fadnavis chairs a meeting to review closing of dilapidated bridges
CM @Dev_Fadnavis chaired a meeting to take review in view of closing down of dangerous/ dilapidated bridges in Mumb… https://t.co/pyM8KmqCML
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) 1560344822000
6:47 pm: Juhu beach cordoned off, police and lifeguards deployed at beaches across Mumbai
6:34 pm: Acrylic sheet from
A heavy acrylic sheet was ripped off a skywalk and crashed on three women pedestrians in Bandra west, near Saraswat Bank, at around 1.30 pm on Wednesday. The injured are - Tejal Kadam (27), Malisa Nazareth (30) and Sulakshana Vaze (41). They were rushed to Holy Family Hospital. Their condition was described as 'stable' by officials.
5:59 pm: More than 500 villages in coastal region of Gujarat evacuated
"Over 500 villages in coastal region have been evacuated and around 2.15 lakh people have been shifted to shelters. From midnight police will be patrolling the vulnerable areas," Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat Revenue Department informed ANI.
Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Gujarat Revenue Department: 36 NDRF team deployed, 11 teams more ready. 9… https://t.co/WXDMrGinwC
— ANI (@ANI) 1560342253000
5:42 pm: 62-year-old killed as portion of cladding collapses at Churchgate station due to strong winds
#MumbaiRains: Metal composite panel falls off the Churchgate station building. One out of two injured citizens decl… https://t.co/3KOP3etSIo
— Mumbai Mirror (@MumbaiMirror) 1560336865000
Read full story here.
5:14 pm: Palghar,
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning, gusty wind with speed reaching 30-40kmph and with intense spell of rain is likely to occur at isolated places in districts of Palghar and Thane during next four hours, as per IMD Mumbai.
5:09 pm: Cyclone Vayu to hit Gujarat coast around Thursday afternoon, says IMD
According to IMD, cyclone Vayu is nearly 280 km south of Veraval, which is the headquarters of Gir Somnath district, and 360 km nearly south of Porbandar. It will cross Gujarat coast between Dwarka and Veraval as a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speed 155-165 kmph around Thursday afternoon.
5:02 pm: Navy braces up to deal with Cyclone Vayu
The Indian Navy on Wednesday said the Western Naval Command has deployed its ships, aircraft and helicopters for rescue and relief operations and to alert the fishermen at sea about the impending Cyclone Vayu. It said that its diving and rescue teams and relief material have been kept on standby for rendering assistance to civil authorities.
Medical teams and facilities at Indian Naval Hospital Asvini at Mumbai are standby to handle medical emergencies. Offshore Defence and Advisory Group has also issued an advisory on Cyclone Vayu to all offshore platforms, it added.
"State administration, local district authorities and Indian Coast Guard authorities have been directed to caution fishermen against proceeding to sea and take all necessary precautions in view of inclement weather," the Navy said.
- With inputs from PTI
#WATCH Gujarat: High tides and strong winds at the Chowpatty beach in Porbandar ahead of the landfall of… https://t.co/bxtKoBAtqP
— ANI (@ANI) 1560338309000
4:48 pm: Flight delays of over 20 minutes reported at Mumbai airport due to bad weather
4:43 pm: 64,090 people have been evacuated from 10 affected areas: GSDMA
According to Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority, more than 64,000 people have been evacuated till 4 pm from 10 cyclone affected areas, reports ANI.
Gujarat: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) evacuates citizens from beaches in Dwarka ahead of the expected la… https://t.co/GQuYdm8M6s
— ANI (@ANI) 1560336648000
4: 10 pm: NDRF holds awareness meeting in Gujarat's Jamnagar
#CycloneVayu UPDATE- #TEAMNDRFINDIA Sensitisation and Awareness on Cyclone at Vill-Barachadi, Jodia, Jamnagar, Gu… https://t.co/epPoxuoitZ
— NDRF (@NDRFHQ) 1560335388000
4:08 pm: List of trains to be cancelled by Western Railways
As a precautionary measure in cyclone prone areas, the Western Railways cancelled 15 trains, while 16 other mainline trains will be short terminated with partial cancellation. Below is the list of the trains to be cancelled:-
4 pm: Strong winds hit Somnath temple in Gir Somnath district
#WATCH Gujarat: Strong winds and dust hit the Somnath temple in Gir Somnath district ahead of the landfall of… https://t.co/OqFTGR5FJe
— ANI (@ANI) 1560334743000
3:55 pm: Transport services between Saurashtra-Kutch cancelled
As part of precautionary measures before Cyclone Vayu makes landfall on the Gujarat coastline on Thursday, the
Western Railway decided to cancel 21 trains, mostly originating from the Bhavnagar and Rajkot divisions as well as some from Bhuj which falls under Ahmedabad division. More trains are set to be cancelled or short-terminated and diverted as the situation develops, said officials in Ahmedabad.
Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has stopped all luxury and premium buses heading to tourist locations and important cities on the coastline so as to dissuade passengers from travelling there. Local bus services are likely to remain affected and more decisions will be taken on a situational bases, said GSRTC General Manager Nikhil Bavre.
All flights from Saurashtra have also been cancelled as the flying conditions are set to deteriorate with the coming of Cyclone Vayu. Flights from Ahmedabad, Porbandar, Diu, Kandla, Mundra and Bhavnagar have been cancelled as per a statement released by Ahmedabad airport authorities.
- Inputs by Brendan Dabhi
3:45 pm: Odisha offers help to Gujarat
According to PTI, Odisha government on Wednesday offered help to the western state, which has launched a massive evacuation exercise to shift people from low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions. Gujarat Chief Secretary JN Singh called up his Odisha counterpart AP Padhi and sought Odisha's advice on how to tackle the cyclonic storm on a war-footing, officials said on Wednesday.
"Gujarat chief secretary had called me up and discussed the measures to be taken ahead of the landfall. We have offered all kind of help to Gujarat. However, the Gujarat chief secretary has said that they will seek further help if required keeping in view the situation," Padhi told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
3:30 pm: Beaches in Mumbai, Thane may be shut for two days
All beaches in the Konkan region — Palgahar, Thane, Mumbai(city/suburban), Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg may be shut off to the public immediately for next two days, as per ANI.
3.15 pm: PM Modi: I have been constantly in touch with State Governments
PM Modi said that the Central Government is closely monitoring the situation due to Cyclone Vayu in Gujarat and other parts of India. I have been constantly in touch with State Governments. NDRF and other agencies are working round the clock to provide all possible assistance.
Praying for the safety and wellbeing of all those affected by Cyclone Vayu. The Government and local agencies are… https://t.co/7jHAoDOgtQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1560331749000
3 pm: Nearly 3 lakh people to be evacuated from coastal areas
Nearly 3 lakh persons to be evacuated from low lying areas of Gujarat that are likely to be affected. Those evacuated will be shifted to relief shelters.
2:20 pm: Rahul Gandhi urges Congress workers to help in areas affected
चक्रवात 'वायु' गुजरात तट के करीब पहुँचने वाला है। मै गुजरात के सभी कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ताओं से अपील करता हूं कि वे इस… https://t.co/VJQ61ZZYNP
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) 1560310156000
1:50 pm: Cyclone Vayu: Here's a list of do's, don'ts to keep you safe
1:40 pm:Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani reaches State Emergency Operation Center, Gandhinagar
Reached State Emergency Operation Center, Gandhinagar and held a review meeting with officials on preparedness of s… https://t.co/p0CP6xyzSY
— Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) 1560326834000
1: 20 pm: Strong Winds expected in the city tomorrow
On June 13, gale wind speed of the order of 145-155 kmph gusting to 170 kmph is expected over north Arabian Sea and Gujarat coast in morning hours and will decrease gradually thereafter. It is very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over north Maharashtra Coasts and northern parts of east-central Arabian Sea, IMD said.
1:10 pm: Watch: Strong winds hit Mumbai
1pm: Indian Navy on standby in Mumbai
Following preparatory actions have been initiated by Headquarters, Western Naval Command, Mumbai to respond expeditiously to the developing situation in view of Cyclone Vayu:-
1. State Administration, local District authorities and Indian Coast Guard authorities have been directed to caution fishermen against proceeding to sea and take all necessary precautions in view of inclement weather.
2. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) bricks and relief material have been embarked on board nominated ships of the Command and are ready to be deployed at short notice.
3. Indian Navy ships operating at sea and aircraft/ Helicopters on routine sorties have been directed to inform fishing vessels operating at sea and advise them to return to harbour.
4. Indian Navy Diving and Rescue Teams and Relief Material have been kept standby for rendering assistance to civil authorities, as required.
5. Medical teams and facilities at Indian Naval Hospital Asvini at Mumbai are standby to handle medical emergencies.
6. P8I and IL aircraft are standby to undertake SAR missions as required.
7. Headquarters, Offshore Defence and Advisory Group has also issued an advisory on cyclone 'Vayu' to all offshore platforms.
12:30 pm: Various measures by Western Railway in view of Cyclone Vayu
Considering the alertness for 'VAYU' cyclone over Gujarat, various safety and security precautions for train passengers are being taken by Western Railway for the prone areas under the jurisdiction of WR i.e. Veraval, Okha, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Bhuj and Gandhidham. The following measures are being undertaken:-
1) All the passenger and Mail/Exp trains to these stations are being short terminated/cancelled after 18.00 hrs of 12.06.19 to morning of 14.06.19.
2) The coaching stock presently available at depots and station yards at coastal areas are being shifted to safe places.
3) Special trains with six to ten coaches each will be formed, to be kept in ready condition at nearest safe location to be moved in emergency conditions.
4) WR HQ office and Divisions have been instructed for better coordination with state authorities for passenger convenience.
5) Round the clock manning of Emergency control office at HQ and at Divisional level by Officers of concerned departments for immediate relief arrangement.
6) WR to run one Special train each from Gandhidham, Bhavnagar Para, Porbandar, Veraval and Okha to evacuate all persons from respective areas.
7) All Railway authorities at concerned divisions and HQs including Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) and Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) have been instructed to provide adequate man power, material alongwith required machinery like JCBs, tree cutters, water tanks, tractors, generators etc and to be in readiness for any assistance as and when needed. These authorities have also been instructed to maintain constant communication with respective field officials to ensure necessary immediate action.
8) Detailed notification regarding cancellation/short termination/diversion etc will be issued shortly.