Cyclone ‘Phyan’: Mumbai Offices, Schools Shut down; Fishermen Warned

With cyclonic storm ‘Phyan’ expected to hit South Gujarat and North Maharashtra late today evening, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, said weather office.

At noon, when cyclonic storm seemed menacingly approaching north Maharashtra and south Gujarat, the government asked all educational institutions and offices in Mumbai and neighbouring district of Thane to close down.

“All schools and offices have been advised to close down for the day in view of the inclement weather that is likely to worsen,” BMC Additional Commissioner A Maheshkar told reporters.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan informed the Legislative Assembly of the decision of shut down.

While the schools have been asked to shut down at 1 pm, offices have been advised to close by 2 pm, Maheshkar said after a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Johny Joseph at Mantralaya.

Earlier, the bulletin from weather office said that a deep depression developed in the South East and adjoining Central Arabian Sea yesterday, which intensified into the cyclone early this morning and the system is likely to move North northeastwards and cross South Gujarat and North Maharashtra coast between Alibag (Maharashtra) and Valsad (Gujarat) by late this evening or night.

It said that the sea will would be very rough along and off Maharashtra and South Gujarat and so a warning has been issued for fishermen not to venture along the Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat coasts.

Cyclonic storm over East Central Arabian Sea moved Northwards and lay centred at 0530 hours today over same area near latitude 16.0 degree North and longitude 71.