BKC COVID-19 facility damaged as Cyclone Tauktae wreaks havoc

On Monday, May 17, as Cyclone Tauktae wreaked havoc across Maharashtra, the BKC jumbo vaccination centre for COVID-19 patients in Mumbai suffered major damages as heavy winds from cyclone Tauktae struck the city

According to reports, Mumbai received a 230 mm downpour due to the cyclonic storm with a weather expert claiming it to be the highest 24-hour downpour in May in the recorded history as the storm passed close to the coast while moving towards Gujarat. Moreover, many trees were uprooted as several structures were damaged across the city. Till Monday morning, the city had recorded 8.37 mm rains, 6.53 in eastern suburbs and 3.92 in western suburbs, substantially cooling down the weather of Mumbai. Moreover, strong winds along the Konkan coast uprooted trees, which fell on railway tracks at five places between Madgaon and Thivim stations.

However, due to the measures undertaken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), no injuries have been reported in the BKC facility as the patients had already been relocated to another location ahead of the cyclone. Meanwhile, waterlogging was experienced in several areas including the Hindmata junction, Andheri subway and Malad Subway, crucial for the east-west connectivity.

The cyclone hit Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and several parts of western Maharashtra, including Kerala and Karnataka on Sunday, May 16. On the way to Gujarat, the cyclone struck Mumbai, Thane and Palghar along with Konkan on Monday, May 17. Mumbai also witnessed heavy rain, forcing the authorities to suspend airport and rail services, and shutting the Bandra-Worli sea link.

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