Two men struggle with their umbrellas along Marine Drive in Mumbai as Cyclone Nisarga veered in. AFP
Mumbai appeared to escape the worst of Cyclone Nisarga on Wednesday as the first severe storm to threaten India’s financial capital in more than 70 years left it largely unscathed after ripping roofs off buildings in nearby coastal towns.
Mumbai and its surrounds are usually sheltered from cyclones – the last deadly storm to hit the city was in 1948 – but authorities evacuated at least 100,000 people, including coronavirus patients, from flood-prone areas in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
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The storm made landfall near the coastal town of Alibag, around 100km south of Mumbai, on Wednesday afternoon, meteorologists said.
It then crossed Maharashtra’s coast, with its path veering to the east of Mumbai and gradually weakened by Wednesday evening, they added.
The cyclone brought heavy rainfall – with winds of 100-110km/h and gusts of up to 120 km/h.
Mumbai experienced downpours throughout the afternoon, with strong winds toppling trees in some cases. City authorities said there were no reports of injuries or deaths, though the rains caused compound walls to collapse in some neighbourhoods.
In Mumbai, police announced fresh restrictions on the city of 18 million people – which was just beginning to emerge from a months-long lockdown – banning gatherings of four people or more until Thursday afternoon.
The storm evacuees included nearly 150 coronavirus patients from a recently built field hospital in Mumbai, underscoring the difficulties facing the city ahead of the monsoon season as it struggles to contain the pandemic.
“Refrain from venturing out to coast-beaches, promenade, parks and other similar places along the coastline,” the police tweeted early on Wednesday.
“Do not leave your house for your own safety and well-being,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray tweeted late on Tuesday, warning of possible disruptions to the power supply due to heavy rainfall.
Warnings of storm surges up to 2m remained in effect on Wednesday, with slum-dwellers in low-lying areas of Mumbai instructed to move to higher ground.
Even as the city’s residents breathed a sigh of relief, forecasters warned that the storm could still carry a sting in its tail until it eased.
The storm triggered disruption to travel as well, with planes grounded during the afternoon and inter-state railway services delayed or diverted to ensure that trains would not travel through the city until the cyclone had passed.
