Hyderabad: A low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Kutch intensified into a cyclonic storm named Cyclone Shakti by Sri Lanka. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the system’s development on Saturday, marking the first post-monsoon cyclone over the Arabian Sea this year.
The cyclone will bring strong winds and rough seas along Maharashtra’s coast between October 3 and 7. Authorities issued alerts for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts.
The IMD forecast wind speeds of 45–55 kmph, with gusts reaching 65 kmph or higher. Officials warned fishermen not to venture into the sea until conditions stabilise.
Cyclone likely to weaken after turning northeast
The IMD said Cyclone Shakti will turn northeast by the morning of October 6. The shift will reduce its intensity, though the sea will remain rough along Maharashtra’s coast until October 5.
On the eastern coast, a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal triggered heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. In Andhra Pradesh, four people died in rain-related incidents. In Odisha’s Gajapati district, a landslide killed two people, while several others remain missing.
