Cyclone India Claimed at Least 20 Lives, 127 People Missing at Sea

Cyclone Tauktae, which has since declined in strength, has claimed twenty human lives in India. According to the navy, 127 people at sea have also been reported missing. The storm hit India with strong gusts of wind and heavy rainfall.

Tauktae made landfall on Monday evening in the Indian state of Gujarat, with gusts of up to 185 kilometres per hour. The cyclone hit the west of the country, flooding coastal areas and displacing thousands of people. According to the country’s meteorological service, the water rose three meters higher than average along the coast.

The cyclone caused victims in the western states of Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The wind has destroyed numerous houses, trees and electricity poles have been blown down.

At sea, 127 people have been reported missing following the wreckage of their vessel off the coast of Mumbai. Two vessels and some Indian Navy helicopters have been deployed in the search and rescue operation for the vessel, with 273 people on board.

The craft was adrift by the violent gusts of wind. 146 of those on board have been rescued under challenging conditions at sea, according to the navy. According to the defence minister, the rescue operations will continue throughout the day, despite the difficult weather conditions.

Tauktae is the most severe tropical storm in the region in recent decades, hitting India as the country experiences an extreme second wave of the coronavirus. In addition, about 4,000 people are killed every day. Hospitals are overloaded, care staff are exhausted, and there are insufficient oxygen and pharmaceutical supplies.