Cyclonic Storm Tauktae hits Indian Gujarat coast

Cyclone Tauktae strikes India (Image : NASA Earth Observatory)

Extremely severe Cyclone Tauktae unleashed devastating winds that reached speeds up to 190 kilometres per hour as the storm made landfall in Gujarat, damaging structures, electricity lines, and uprooting trees.

As Tauktae approached land with maximum sustained winds of 100 knots (185 kilometers/125 miles per hour) and gusts up to 125 knots (230 kilometers/145 miles), equivalent to a category 3 or 4 hurricane. That made Tauktae the fifth-strongest storm observed in the Arabian Sea since 1998. Winds of that strength can easily snap trees, topple power lines, and damage homes. The storm also pushed a destructive storm surge of water onto the Indian coast; reports suggest it may have been as high as 3 meters (10 feet) in some areas.

The eye of extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae, which had hit Gujarat coast in Saurashtra between Diu and Una around 9 pm, completed its landfall around 12 am on Tuesday, According to the India Meteorological Department, there is no report of any casualty so far and over two lakh people has been shifted to safer locations before the cyclone.

IMD also announced after mid night that Cyclone Tauktae has weakened into a “very severe cyclonic storm" from the “extremely severe cyclonic storm". The entire eye of the cyclone has now crossed the coast and lies over land. The rear sector of the eye has now entered the land with a wind speed of around 150 to 175 kilometers.

The cyclone brought gusty winds and heavy rains on the entire coastal belt, uprooting trees in Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts, the cyclone would now move towards northern Gujarat  towards Amreli district and Banaskantha in the north after crossing Surendranagar district and will eventually weaken.

The cyclone winds has caused road blockage and power outages in many villages of these districts. Coastal districts of Amreli, Junagadh, Gir-Somnath and Bhavnagar has beared the maximum brunt as the wind speed.

Officials said that the true picture of the devastation would emerge later, as extreme weather made it nearly impossible to go out during the night.