Nisarga to make landfall as 'severe cyclone'

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 2

The depression in the Arabia Sea intensified into a cyclonic storm around noon on Tuesday, according to IMD. The system is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and make landfall in the afternoon of June 3.

Earlier, IMD said it had intensified from a depression to deep depression travelling northwards over east central Arabian Sea at a speed of 11 kmph. Currently, the system is centered about 200 km west-southwest of Panjim (Goa), about 400 km south-southwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra) and about 700 km south-southwest of Surat (Gujarat).

As it intensified into a cyclone, it was named Nisarga as per the established protocol for tropical storms in the Indian Ocean region.

Also read: Nisarga 65th 'named cyclone' in Indian Ocean region 

Nisarga will be the first-ever cyclone in recorded history to hit the Maharashtra coast in June.

"It is very likely to move nearly northwards and recurve north-northeastwards thereafter and cross north Maharashtra and adjoining south Gujarat coast between Harihareshwar (Raigad, Maharashtra) and Daman during the afternoon of June 3 as a 'severe cyclone'," said the IMD.

Coastal parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, are expected to be most affected.

“According to our assessment, it may make landfall as severe cyclone around the afternoon of June 3. The effect is expected to be more on the Maharashtra coast, Mumbai, Thane, Raigarh, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts,” according to IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra.

Two cyclones within a fortnight also point towards a trend of pre-monsoon cyclonic activity, said experts. Notably, the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea have witnessed "above normal" cyclogenesis in the past two years. India and Bangladesh have already been hit by the first major storm of the season, 'super cyclone' Amphan.

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