Cyclone hits life, peak tourist season in Goa

PANAJI: Heavy rains have battered Goa and much of the West Coast since Thursday as Cyclone Kyarr continued on its path along the coast.

More than 200 fishing boats and trawlers from various parts of the west coast including Maharashtra and Gujarat sought refuge in Goa while one trawler capsized on Friday necessitating the rescue of four crew members while a fifth person is still missing.

The weather along the coast led to extremely rough sea conditions, high waves and strong undercurrents. The administration has advised tourists against visiting beaches.

According to the meteorological department, on Friday morning, at 10:30 am centre of cyclone Kyarr was located at a distance of approximately 239.4 km west off Panaji while earlier in the morning at 7:30 am it was located around 235 km.

Ferry services connecting Goa’s islands have been suspended due to the high water levels leaving around 4,000 people cut off from the rest of the state until the situation improves.

“Four routes of ferry services...have been suspended,” an official of the river navigation department said.

Meanwhile, an unmanned tanker Nu Shi Nalini, a chemical tanker believed to be loaded with 3,000 tons of naphtha that broke loose from the inner anchorage of Mormugao Port continues to remain precariously bobbing over the choppy seas. Efforts to tow it back to port have remained unsuccessful.

“Due to the rough weather the boat is drifting towards the shore... The revenue secretary, Captain of Ports, Director General of Shipping are monitoring the situation...,” chief minister Pramod Sawant said speaking late last night.

The cyclone is very likely to move west-northwestwards towards Oman coast during the next 5 days. It is very likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 24 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 12 hours.

According to the meteorological department, the weather is expected to improve from Sunday onwards.