Around 40 people killed in cyclone in India

At least 38 people died in the past two days in western India due to wind squall and torrential rains caused by powerful tropical cyclone Tauktae, Report informs, citing TASS.

According to PTI, which cites local authorities, at least 13 people died in Gujarat and at least 17 more were killed in Maharashtra.

Karnataka earlier reported eight victims.

The cyclone, which emerged late last week in the Arabian Sea, at the southwestern coasts of India, passed along the western coasts of Hindistan on Sunday and Monday, bringing torrential rains and wind gusts of 155-165 km/hours, sometimes of 190 km/h. On Tuesday night, the cyclone approached Gujarat and started to make landfall, gradually losing its intensity.

Gujarat’s chief minister Vijar Rupani told reporters on Wednesday that over 16,000 homes were damaged, over 40,000 trees and more than 70,000 electric poles and masts of energy distribution lines were fallen by the wind gusts, leaving 5,952 villages without power.

In Maharashtra, the preliminary assessment revealed partial damage to more than 11,000 homes. Destructions were noted in the states of Karnataka and Goa. Authorities continue to collect information about victims and destructions.

Currently, Tauktae has weakened from ‘a very severe cyclone storm’ to ‘cyclone storm’ and is moving northeast of Gujarat, bringing powerful rainfalls.