At least 17 people died as cyclone Tauktae ravaged coastal districts of Saurashtra after crashing into the coast near Diu and Una late on Monday night at a speed of nearly 165 kmph. Five deaths were reported in Bhavnagar district alone, while eight other districts including Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Panchamahal accounted for the rest of the casualties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to conduct an aerial survey of worst-hit districts today.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked 53 teams to tackle possible after- effects of cyclone Tauktae that is developing in the Arabian Sea, a senior officer said on Friday.
NDRF Director General S N Pradhan said in a tweet that these teams are being deployed in the coastal regions of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Out of the 53 teams, he said, 24 have been pre-deployed or stationed on the ground while the rest are on stand-by. A single NDRF team comprises about 40 personnel and they are armed with tree and pole cutters, boats, basic medical aid and other relief and rescue equipments.