Cyclone Nisarga Threat to Indian West Coast

Less than two weeks after a powerful cyclone passed through West Bengal on its way to Bangladesh, India is bracing to face another cyclone, this time on its western coast. It will hit the coastline between Harihareshwar in Raigad district, just south of Mumbai, and Daman, just below Gujarat coast and is likely to evolve into a Severe Cyclonic Storm, which, roughly stated, is of strength 2 on a 1-to-5 of strength of cyclones that arise in the Indian Ocean. With a red alert warning for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar issued by the India Meteorological Department for Wednesday, police put public places along the coast like beaches, promenades, parks out of bounds of people under Section 144 of CrPC for 24 hourstoday and authorities have evacuated hundreds of vulnerable dwellers near the sea in the city and thousands in coastal districts around it. In all, 65,000 people have been evacuated in five districts.