Cyclone Nisarga hits Alibaug with wind speed of 120 kmph

Cyclone Nisarga hits the Alibaug on the north coast of Maharashtra with a wind speed of nearly 120 kmph, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday. It will move northeastwards and weaken into a cyclonic storm during the next six hours.

New Delhi: The severe cyclonic storm 'Nisarga' made landfall near Alibaug on the north coast of Maharashtra, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday adding the landfall process will be completed during the next three hours.

The rear part of the wall cloud region is still over the sea and the landfall process will be completed by next one hour, said IMD in its hourly bulletin. It will move northeastwards and weaken into a cyclonic storm during the next 6 hours.

Talking to ETV Bharat, IMD Scientist and Head of National Weather Forecasting Center, Dr Sathi Devi said, "After the system crosses, the moisture supply gets cut off. That is why the intensity will reduce but it will already take 3-6 hours for that."

The storm is heading at a speed of 20 kmph from the last six hours. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy and teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on standby to conduct rescue and relief operations on the coasts of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Dr Sathi Devi warned as there will be heavy rainfall and strong wind speed in cyclone-affected areas, therefore it is advisable that people remain indoor and also keep on checking hourly bulletin of IMD to stay updated about the movement of cyclones.