Cyclone to cross Maharashtra coast on June 3 afternoon; red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad

Mumbai: A cyclonic storm is likely to cross north Maharashtra coastal line on the afternoon of June 3. A depression was formed in Arabian sea on the morning of 1st June. By the late evening of 1st June, this depression is likely to convert into a deep depression. As per IMD, by June 2, this deep depression is likely to further intensify into a cyclone and move towards north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coastal zone.

IMD has issued a red alert for Mumbai, Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Nashik, Nandurbar and Dhule areas of Maharashtra for 3rd June. Red alert means these areas are likely to witness extremely heavy rainfall in isolated parts.

Till 31st May, the red alert was there only for Palghar but by 1st June evening, Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Nashik, Dhule and Nardurbar of Maharashtra also fell into the red alert category.

IMD has issued several warnings. Apart from extremely heavy rainfalls, alert for wind speed from 105-115 kmph gusting over 125 kmph is also issued for North Maharashtra coastal line (Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar).

Several preparations are being done in Maharashtra in the light of this cyclone alert. 09 teams of NDRF are deployed in Maharashtra. 03 teams of NDRF in Mumbai, 02 teams of NDRF in Palghar and 01 team each in Raigad, Thane, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg is deployed.

NDRF teams are also deployed in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

In other warnings, fishermen community is asked to not to venture into the Arabian sea.