Raigad/Mumbai, June 3 : Cyclone ‘Nisarga’ hit the Maharashtra coast nearby Alibag this afternoon, accompanied by heavy rains and gusty winds with speed of about 100 kms per hour thereby uprooting trees, electric poles and blowing off the roofs of thatched houses in Raigad district.
However, no casualties were reported so far, police said adding that some houses with thatched and tin roofs in coastal areas like Ratnagiri, Dapoli and Alibag were blown away and trees were uprooted thereby blocking the roads and damaging vehicles parked along side.
The cyclone, which was to hit Mumbai, fortunately turned away and left the city from its fury. However, it had a little impact in Mumbai as uprooted trees fell on vehicles and roads causing panic and disruption in public movements. Reports of compound walls in some buildings crumbling down poured in even as police and Disaster Relief Teams deployed by the State and the Centre kept a vigil and were in preparedness to come as rescue to the people. Indian Coast Guard had deployed as many as eight teams in the coastal areas as stand by to provide relief in case of emergency. An equal number of Disaster Relief Teams were deployed in Raigad, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to assist in Diaster Management.
The cyclone after hitting Coastal Maharashtra has now moved ahead from Mumbai and Thane to North Maharashtra.
Ten soldiers on board a ship off Ratnagiri Coast were rescued by Relief teams. The vessel was traced at Mirya Bunder area of Ratnagiri and Relief Teams swung into action to bring the stranded crew members to the coast. The vessel was in danger due to high tides and heavy rains which accompanied the Cyclone. Heavy rains and strong gusty winds pushed the ship to Mirakwada coast from where they were rescued. All of them were reported to be safe now, Raigad police added.
Four people were injured in Ratnagiri as many houses in Madangad and Dapoli areas were damaged when the cyclone stormed the coastal areas. Roofs of several houses in Ratnagiri were blown away by the strong winds.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhav Thackeray has directed the state administration to maintain operational readiness and provide immediate relief to people in distress due to Cyclone Nisarga. The Chief Minister’s office said that Udhav Thackeray was in constant touch with the collectors of the districts to get a first had report of the cyclone movements and impact.
Losses to the properties and houses was not immediately known and compensation packages would be announced only after that, the authorities said.
The authorities had yesterday sounded Red alert for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar.
