Cyclone Shakhti alert: Heavy rains expected in Maharashtra from October 3-7

The India Meteorological Department IMD has issued Cyclone Shakhti warning for some districts of Maharashtra with high to moderate cyclone warning between October 3 and 7According to the release the warning covers Mumbai Thane Palghar Raigad Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg The wind speed reaching 4555 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph is likely to prevail over the North Maharashtra coast between October 3 and 5The wind speed may increase depending on the cyclones intensity The Sea conditions are very rough with rough seas expected along the northern Maharashtra coast until October 5Fishermen are advised to avoid venturing into the seaThe India Meteorological Department IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rains in the interior parts of Maharashtra particularly in East Vidarbha and parts of Marathwada with a possibility of flooding in the lowlying areas of North Konkan due to intense cloud formation and infiltration of moisture into the atmosphereThe Maharashtra government has issued instructions for preparation in response to the Cyclone Shakhti warning District administrations should activate their disaster management systems prepare evacuation plans for citizens in coastal and lowlying areas issue public advisories advise against sea travel and maintain safety during heavy rainsMeanwhile Cyclone Shakhti the first cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea in the postmonsoon season was moving towards Dwarka off the Gujarat coast on Friday and was expected to intensify further the weather office saidThe cyclonic storm over the northeast Arabian Sea moved westnorthwestwards with a speed of eight kmph during the last six hours and lay centred at 2030 hrs IST on Friday over the same region nearly 300 km west of Dwarka 330 km southsouthwest of Karachi Pakistan and 360 km west of PorbandarShakhti a name given by Sri Lanka is likely to move initially westwards and then westsouthwestwards intensifying further into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday morningThereafter it is likely to continue to move westsouthwestwards and reach central parts of north and adjoining central Arabian Sea by 5th October the weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department saidUnder the influence of the cyclonic storm sea conditions are very likely to be rough to very rough along and off the Gujaratnorth Maharashtra coast and Pakistan coast till Sunday