This year’s first cyclone ‘Tauktae’ has been notified by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is reported to hit both the west and southeast coast of the country. The cyclone is forecasted to head from the southeast Arabian sea towards the Union Territory (UT) of Lakshadweep. Cyclone Tauktae has been anticipated to form over the southeast Arabian sea on 14 May 2021 and travel northwards towards Lakshadweep by 15 May 2021 while continuing its path towards the South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu before finding its way to Maharashtra and the Gujrat’s Kutch region.
The IMD anticipate that the results of the cyclone may be felt from 15 May to 18 May 2021 in the nation’s western coast. The Union Territory of Lakshadweep, coastal regions of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujrat are likely to bear the worst of the cyclone’s brunt. A category orange alert has been issued by the IMD in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the course of the weekend from 14 May 2021 to Sunday, 16 May 2021.
The cyclone was named ‘Tauktae’ by Myanmar. The word means Gecko, which is a type of lizard known for having distinctive vocalisation. The eight countries housed in the southern region of the globe take turns in naming cyclones. India too comes under these eight nations. Lakshadweep’s low-lying areas are expected to be flooded anytime between 15-16 May 2021. The IMD has also issued an advisory to fisherman appealing them not to venture out into sea.
It is also expected that the resulting rainfall from the cyclone will only become more violent over the weekend. The department have also made an observation that the cyclone may possibly drift towards Gujrat and south Pakistan with a further possibility of heading towards south Oman. Specific districts of Kerala have been issued ‘heavy to very heavy rain alerts’ with six districts in the state given the orange code for 14 May 2021 and is likely to expect 24 hours of heavy rain ranging anywhere between 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm.
Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KDMA) has deliberated with the Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN), Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) over contingency measures. KDMA has directed authorities to arrange relief camps in adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.