INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Ahmedabad: As lots of as 13 people were eliminated in Gujarat as cyclone Tauktae pummelled parts of the state and left a path of destruction
along the coast, uprooting electric poles, trees and destructive countless homes and roads, officials stated on Tuesday.In what was among
the worst cyclones dealt with by the state, Tauktae set off heavy rains in numerous parts along its method from the Saurashtra coast to
North Gujarat with as many as 46 talukas receiving over 100 mm of rainstorm, while 12 of them tape-recorded 150 mm to 175 mm of rains
Tauktae, characterised as an exceptionally severe cyclonic storm on Monday, has now weakened into a cyclonic storm and will gradually
become a deep anxiety as it moves northwards, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.Even as Tauktae's strength deteriorated, it
left behind a trail of damage with as lots of as 13 people losing their lives in various parts of Gujarat, consisting of Bhavnagar, Rajkot,
Patan, Amreli and Valsad, officials said.Over 16,000 homes were damaged, more than 40,000 trees and over 70,000 electric poles rooted out,
while 5,951 villages faced overall power blackout due to the cyclonic storm in Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said
In his media briefing, Rupani said formally the death toll due to the cyclone stood at 13
A female passed away when an electric pole fell on her while she was oversleeping Patan town late Monday night amidst strong wind, an
official from Patan A-division police headquarters said.A female and her daughter were eliminated when the wall of their house collapsed at
Badeli town in Palitana taluka of Bhavnagar, a local administration authorities said.In another event, a lady passed away after the roofing
system of her home collapsed on 4 family members at Rajula in Amreli district on Monday night, authorities stated
In Sanand town of Ahmedabad district, an unidentified male in his 30s and a female, believed to be his relative, died on the spot when a
live wire got dislodged from the pole and fell on them near a complex on Sanand-Bavla roadway, stated police.A woman and her teenage child
passed away after coming in contact with a live electrical power wire in Nadiad town of Kheda district
The deceased were recognized as Taraben Bhil (35) and her child Asha (16 ), said Nadiad town police.Government officials did not offer the
information of the other five deaths
The landfall process of the eye of the incredibly severe cyclonic storm Tauktae, which struck the Gujarat coast in the Saurashtra region
between Diu and Una, ended around midnight on Monday, the IMD said.The remnant of the weather condition system is likely to move
north-eastwards across Rajasthan to west Uttar Pradesh throughout May 19 and 20, said the Ministry of House Ministry in its advisory.As of
Tuesday night, the cyclonic storm lay centred over Saurashtra, around 35km west of Ahmedabad, 80km east- northeast of Surendranagar, and 120
km south-southeast of Deesa, with the wind intensity now reduced to 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph, the IMD said
The IMD stated districts such as Amreli, Bhavnagar, Navsari, Valsad, Sabarkantha, among others in Gujarat, and Daman and Dadra and Nagar
Haveli in the neighbouring Union Area along with Sabarkantha, were likely to get heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.The cyclone finished the
landfall in Gujarat at 1:30 am on Tuesday, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Pankaj Kumar stated, including districts of Amreli, Gir
Somnath, Junagadh, Porbandar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Botad in Saurashtra were the worst affected by the natural disaster.Rupani informed
press reporters that 5,951 villages suffered blackout and work was underway to bring back power supply in 3,850 of them
Around 70,000 electric poles fell and four 220-KV sub stations were yet to reboot out of five that suffered damage due to the storm, the
chief minister said.He said 68 out of 165 66-KV sub stations were likewise harmed and later on made functional.Rupani said out of 425
COVID-19 medical facilities situated in the affected locations, 122 suffered power blackout, out of which electrical power supply in 83 was
restored, and 39 others were working on backup arrangements.Rupani guaranteed people that loss triggered to standing crops, mango and
coconut farms, along with houses and livestock will be compensated by the government, and a survey will be instantly undertaken for the
Due to the cyclone, the state got prevalent rainfall, with 96 talukas receiving more than one inch of downpour, Rupani informed.As many as
46 talukas gotten around 4 inch rains, and 12 around 6 to 7 inch rains
10 talukas received more than 5 inch downpour, the primary minister said.The cyclone poured very heavy rains at all locations where it
passed from in addition to adjoining areas.Many areas of Ahmedabad city were inundated with knee-deep water following perpetual rainstorm
since afternoon as Tauktae passed northward along the district's periphery
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Tuesday rescued eight anglers onboard a fishing boat that drifted into the sea off the coast of Veraval
harbour due to the cyclone, officials said.Besides, two Coast Guard Chetak helicopters, operating from the CG airbase at the Union Area of
Daman, rescued 8 crew members of the stranded ship 'Gal Fitter' from the sea off the Satpati coast (in neighbouring Maharashtra) amidst
extremely rough and harsh climate condition, a release said.The strength of the wind has gradually minimized but looking at its movement,
we need to take severe precaution till night, Extra Chief Secretary Kumar told press reporters
A major cyclone in Gujarat on June 9, 1998, had actually brought widespread death and damage in its wake, especially in the port town of
Kandla.While main figures had then put the death toll at 1,173, adding 1,774 went missing, media reports, eyewitness and volunteer accounts
suggested this was grossly an understatement.
