Mumbai: Cyclone Shakhti, the first post-monsoon storm over the Arabian Sea this year, has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, prompting high alerts across Maharashtra and Gujarat as officials warn of strong winds up to 100 kmph and turbulent sea conditions.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as of Saturday afternoon, the cyclone was centred around 420 km off Dwarka in Gujarat, moving westwards at about 18 kmph over the last six hours. Earlier in the day, at 8:30 am, it was located near 22.0°N and 64.5°E, approximately 470 km west of Dwarka, 470 km west-southwest of Naliya, and 600 km east-northeast of Masirah in Oman.
The IMD said Cyclone Shakhti is currently positioned over the northwest and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea and is expected to move west-southwestwards till October 5, before gradually recurving east-northeastwards and weakening from October 6 onward.
Under its influence, sea conditions along and off the Gujarat and north Maharashtra coasts are likely to remain rough to very rough over the next few days. Similar turbulent conditions are also expected along the Pakistan coast till Sunday.
Authorities have issued strict warnings for fishermen not to venture into the northwest and northeast Arabian Sea, central Arabian Sea, or the coastal waters off Gujarat and north Maharashtra until at least Tuesday.
State disaster management teams have been placed on alert, and coastal districts are preparing for possible evacuations and safety measures to minimize damage. Officials have urged residents to stay updated on official advisories and avoid unnecessary travel near the coastline.
The name “Shakhti”, submitted by Sri Lanka, follows the regional cyclone naming convention. While it resembles the Indian word “Shakti,” meaning power, the spelling reflects the Sri Lankan transliteration used in official records.