The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for Maharashtra as Cyclone ‘Shakhti’ intensifies over the Arabian Sea, threatening to lash the state with heavy rains, strong winds, and rough sea conditions in the coming days. Disaster management authorities have been put on high alert, and evacuation plans are already being drawn up in vulnerable areas.
Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg have been placed on high to moderate alert until 7 October. Along the northern Maharashtra coast, winds of 45–55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, have already been recorded, and authorities have warned that these speeds could rise further as the cyclone strengthens.
The northern Maharashtra coast is already facing hazardous sea conditions, expected to persist at least until October 5. Authorities have cautioned fishermen against venturing out, while residents in low-lying areas are on alert for tidal surges and flooding.
The weather department has predicted heavy to very heavy rain not just along the coast but also across inland areas. East Vidarbha and Marathwada are likely to receive intense downpours, and low-lying parts of North Konkan may experience flooding.
Cyclone Shakhti, the name assigned by Sri Lanka, is expected to track west initially before veering west-southwest, strengthening into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday morning.
“Thereafter, it is likely to continue to move west-southwestwards and reach central parts of the north and adjoining central Arabian Sea by 5th October,” the weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department said.
Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, sea conditions are very likely to be rough to very rough along and off the Gujarat-north Maharashtra coast and Pakistan coast till Sunday, it added.
The cyclonic storm in the northeast Arabian Sea advanced west-northwest at around 8 kmph over the past six hours. As of 8. 30 pm IST on Friday, it was positioned roughly 300 km west of Dwarka, 330 km south-southwest of Karachi, and 360 km west of Porbandar.
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