Cyclone Ockhi to make landfall in Mumbai, Gujarat

Owing to Cyclone Ockhi, the city recorded the highest-ever December rainfall on Tuesday, in just 12 hours. Rainfall during 8.30am-8.30pm at the IMD's Santacruz observatory was 36mm, which beat the previous record of 31.4mm, recorded on December 12, 1967.

Cyclone Ockhi is gradually weakening into a depression and may not hit the Gujarat coast near Surat as predicted earlier, the Meteorological Centre said here on the intervening night of December 5 and 6.

A petition has been filed at the Madurai bench of the Madras high court seeking direction to central government to declare cyclone Ockhi a national disaster.

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani says that his government is focusing on cyclone Ockhi, election is secondary.

The Election Commission has asked Gujarat's chief electoral officer to prepare a contingency plan in the wake of cyclone Ockhi and to ensure that those affected and rehabilitated should be able to vote.

The Kerala government today said intensified search and rescue operations are on to trace 92 fishermen, still missing in high seas after cyclone Ockhi hit the state coast on November 29 and 30.

As per the latest forecast, the cyclone is approaching Gujarat steadily and now lies centred in the Arabian Sea just 390 kms away from the coastline near Surat.

Rallies of several top leaders, including those by BJP chief Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, cancelled.

NDRF teams deployed at various parts of Gujarat to assist the administration.

PM Modi said he is continuously monitoring the situation arising in various parts of the country due to the cyclone.

PM Modi appealed to the Gujarat BJP workers to focus on providing assistance to the people likely to be hit by the cyclonic storm.

Cyclone Ockhi is heading towards Surat and will be passing through Mumbai at around 9PM. It will not cause any major damage. Wind will start picking up speed after 12:00pm. Wind speed and rains will be high between 3pm to 3am. Avoid going out between 3:00pm, Dec 5 2017 to 3am Dec 6 2017, unless emergency. Weather should be normal in Mumbai on Dec 6th 2017 at around 6:00am with observation of low rain showers.

12pm (12-22km/h) medium to heavy rain

3pm (18-55km/h) medium to heavy rain

6pm (35-66km/h) medium to heavy rain

9pm (42-80km/h) medium to heavy rain

1am (20-70km/h) medium to heavy rain

3am (12-40km/h) medium rain

6am (7-20km/h) low rain

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday he is constantly monitoring the situation in various states arising out of cyclone Ockhi battering parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep islands and now heading towards Gujarat.

Twelve beaches in Goa have been affected by the rising sea level caused by Cyclone Ockhi: Revenue minister Rohan Khaunte

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's rallies in Gujarat's Morbi, Dhrangadhra and Surendranagar have been cancelled due to bad weather: ANI

State women's commission members to contribute a day's salary to the chief minister's disaster relief fund to support those affected due to cyclone Ockhi. Funds will be handed over to CM Pinarayi Vijayan on December 8.

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani is expected to brief journalists on cyclone Ockhi at 5.30pm in Surat.

IMD says cyclone Ockhi is 230km west-southWest of Mumbai, likely to continue to move north-northeastward, weaken gradually and will cross South Gujrat and North Maharashtra coast. No impact on Mumbai city and suburbs. Road and rail traffic is running smoothly, please don’t create panic: BMC

Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) in Surat has canceled all exams due to Ockhi cyclone

There were 2606 boats that have been called back off the maharashtra coast. Of which, one boat which 4 people on board is missing and cannot be contacted: Additional chief secretary Medha gadgil

People who came to Mumbai to participate in Ambedkar Jayanthi event on December 6 have been asked to move to BMC schools as the tents put up on the Shivaji Park ground could not withstand the gusty winds #CycloneOckhi mumbai pic.twitter.com/ILtrZoYfdu

& mdash; TOI Cities (@TOICitiesNews) December 5, 2017

#Gujarat: Police have barred people's entry to the Dumas beach in #Surat #cycloneockhi pic.twitter.com/6mSh4ws5xI

& mdash; TOI Ahmedabad (@TOIAhmedabad) December 5, 2017

#Mumbai: Policemen take shelter under a temporary shade at Shivaji Park ground #cycloneokchi pic.twitter.com/hAlpdrZNak

& mdash; TOI Mumbai (@TOIMumbai) December 5, 2017

In view of the heavy rains expected in Gujarat due to cyclone Ockhi, the Surat collector has ordered to close schools and colleges today. The officer has also declared holiday on Wednesday as well.

Cyclone Ockhi to cross south Gujarat coast by tonight

Fishermen are advised not to venture into the Sea along & off South Gujarat coast during nex 24 hours

Damage Expected over south Gujarat and Saurashtra Damage Expected over south Gujarat and Saurashtra (Valsad, Surat, Navsari, Bharuch, Dang, Tapi, Amreli, Gir- Somnath, Bhavnagar districts), Daman, Diu, and Dadra, Nagar Haveli : Minor damage to loose / unsecured structures, breaking of tree branches, uprooting of small trees. Minor damage to Banana trees. Some damage to agriculture near coast due to salt spray. Damage to ripe paddy crops. Minor damage to Kutcha embankments

Sea condition would be rough to very rough along & off South Gujarat coast during next 24 hours

Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph very likely along & off South Gujarat coast during next 24 hours

Heavy rain very likely at isolated places in the districts of Gujarat region namely Valsad, Surat, Navsari, Bharuch, Dang, Tapi, Narmada, Baroda, Chhota Udaipur, Panchmahal, Dahod; in the district of Saurashtra namely Amreli, Gir Somanath, Bhavnagar and in Diu, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli during 5th December 2017

The cyclone is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and cross south Gujarat and adjoining north Maharashtra coasts near Surat as a deep depression by the night of 5th December 2017

The severe cyclonic storm 'OCKHI' over eastcentral Arabian Sea moved further north-northeastwards with a speed of 25 kmph during past 6 hours, weakened into a cyclonic storm and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of 05th December, 2017 over eastcentral Arabian Sea near Latitude 18.2º N and Longitude 70.8º E, about 390 km south-southwest of Surat and 230 km west-southwest of Mumbai