We Indians cannot seem to catch a break right now. The pandemic continues to rage across the country and fate decided to play a cruel joke by adding a cyclone into the mix. Cyclone Tauktae hit the west coast of India and intensified into an ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’. It hit Mumbai and the Maharashtra coast and then the Gujarat coast before continuing to vent its fury inland at places such as Ahmedabad. Lashing rain and 150kmph and 160kmph created scary scenes like these:
Apollo Bunder in Mumbai is generally a popular spot for family outings, but not on the day that Tauktae struck.
The heaving Arabian sea is seen lashing the Gateway and the turbulent water is spilling onto the road.
Debris strewn everywhere, uprooted trees, severe water logging, blocked roads and destruction was seen in different parts of Mumbai.
Gale force winds and lashing rain disrupted life and caused significant damage.
The cyclone vented its wrath on Gujarat after it lashed Mumbai and surrounding areas.
A huge advertisement hoarding is seen to collapse in this video.
A major intersection in the city of Ahmedabad saw this scene, with road users narrowly escaping being hit.
Fallen trees, stalled vehicles, flooded streets were seen all over the city.
They shared videos of their personal experiences with the cyclone Tauktae.
The ferocity of the storm has been such that over 1.5 lakh people were moved to safer locations by disaster response teams.
Seen here is the Sabarmati River, one of the bridges across it and the beautiful Ahmedabad River Front. The drop in temperatures offered a welcome respite from the heat.
The heavy rains have caused flooding and destruction in cities and the countryside.
A hospital of the Asarwa area in Ahmedabad saw the façade of a hospital give way.
The cyclone has caused a lot of damage to crops and fruit orchards as well.
Someone with a sense of humour tried to find some levity in the situation – that coconut tree dancing dangerously in the wind fits almost too well with the ghoomar track! Mumbai is bright and sunny today, just a day or so after Tauktae hit – as with all dark clouds, this too shall pass.
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