Cyclone Tauktae: PM Modi undertakes aerial survey of cyclone-affected districts in Gujarat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today undertook an aerial survey of coastal districts in Gujarat, which are badly affected due to the extremely severe cyclonic storm that made a landfall in Saurashtra on May 17 night. At least 17 people reportedly died in Gujarat alone due to the cyclone’s impact.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducts an aerial survey of the cyclone Tauktae affected areas of Gujarat and Diu. Photo: @sagarhbjp/twitter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today landed in Bhavnagar from New Delhi and undertook an aerial survey of Amreli, Gir Somnath and Bhavnagar, the Union Territory of Diu, and other cyclone-affected areas in Gujarat.
At least 17 people have reportedly died in Gujarat as Cyclone Tauktae ravaged coastal districts of Saurashtra in the state on the night of May 17 when it made a landfall near Diu and Una. Gaon Connection has not independently verified the death toll. Cyclone Tauktae is being termed as possibly the strongest cyclone in the living memory of people of coastal Gujarat.
The extremely severe cyclonic storm uprooted trees, damaged instructure and several coastal areas continue to be without power supply. News reports point out heavy damages to the coconut and mango crops in Saurashtra region. Fishing communities have suffered heavy damages too. The Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the situation was expected to return to normal by today.
The cyclone has left a trail of destruction along the entire western coast of the country including the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Damages are still being assessed and death toll estimated to be 33.
It is reported that at least 184 people on-board barge P305, which sank after it went adrift in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, have been saved. The search and rescue operations are underway for at least 75 others.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army has stepped in to open lines of communication and restore movement of essential supplies in the Cyclone Tauktae affected areas.
The remnant of the extremely severe cyclonic storm moved northeastwards with a speed of about 16Kmph during the past six hours, said the India Meteorological department today. Light to moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with speed of 30-40 Km/h would continue to occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi & NCR (Bahadurgarh, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Noida) Panipat, Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra.