Mumbai: Cyclonic
storm ‘Phyan’ will hit South Gujarat and North Maharashtra by late
this evening following a deep depression in the South East and
adjoining Central Arabian Sea and fishermen have been warned against
venturing into the sea, the weather office said.
The
Depression, which developed yesterday, intensified into a cyclone
early this morning and the system is likely to move North
northeastwards and cross South Gujarat and North Maharashtra coast
between Alibag (Maharashtra) and Valsad (Gujarat) by late this
evening or night, the latest bulletin from the weather office said.
The sea
will be very rough along and off Maharashtra and South Gujarat Coast
and fishermen have been warned against venturing along the
Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat coasts, it said.
Cyclonic
storm over East Central Arabian Sea moved Northwards and lay centred
at 0530 hours today over same area near latitude 16.0 degree North
and longitude 71.5 degree East about 250 kilometers West northwest
of Goa and 350 kms South southwest of Mumbai and 620 kms South
southwest of Surat in Gujarat.
Sqaully
winds reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph are likely along and
off Maharashtra and South Gujarat coast during, Met Office said.
Mumbai schools, offices asked to shut down
With
cyclonic storm `Phyan’ menacingly approaching north Maharashtra and
south Gujarat, the government has asked all educational institutions
and offices in the city to close down this afternoon.
“All
schools and offices have been advised to close down for the day in
view of the inclement weather that is likely to worsen,” BMC
Additional Commissioner A Maheshkar told reporters.
While
the schools have been asked to shut down at 1 pm, offices have been
advised to close by 2 pm, Maheshkar said after a high-level meeting
chaired by Chief Secretary Johny Joseph at Mantralaya.
She said
the BMC was arranging for buses at Chhatrapati Shivaji and
Churchgate terminus to ferry people back home.
All 24
control rooms of the BMC have been activated, she said, adding many
trees maybe uprooted as the city and its adjoining areas were
expected to experience high-speed winds reaching up to 90 KM per
hour.
The
machinery has been geared up to promptly clear the streets of the
trees and people cautioned against taking shelter under them.
Asked if
the advisory for closure of educational institutions and offices
would be in force even tomorrow, she said no such decision had been
taken as yet.
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