As cyclone Tauktae intensified into a cyclonic storm, Vistara and IndiGo have stated that their flight operations are likely to be impacted due to the adverse conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the storm is likely to hit the coasts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Kerala in the next four days, causing flooding in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The storm 'Tauktae' can cause havoc in many parts of the country including Gujarat, Kerala, and Karnataka. The officials of the National Disaster Management Force (NDRF) on Friday deployed several teams on the ground. National Disaster Response Force DG SN Pradhan said that 24 teams have already been deployed in Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra and 29 teams are on standby due to the cyclonic storm.
On Friday, the India Meteorological Department had said that the low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea near Lakshwadeep had intensified into a deep depression and will intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours. On Twitter, IMD wrote, "Deep Depression intensified into a Cyclonic Storm "Tauktae" (pronounced as Tau'Te) over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast and east-central the Arabian Sea: Cyclone watch for south Gujarat and Diu coasts."
The IMD has issued Red-alert in Kerala's eight districts –Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikkode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasargod.
Due to cyclonic disturbance, extreme rainfall is also likely over Lakshadweep in the next 24 hours. According to IMD, Kerala and Tamil Nadu will experience extremely heavy rainfalls till 16 May. Meanwhile, a red alert has been issued in three districts of Lakshadweep and five districts of Kerala on Saturday.
