Cyclone Nisarga


Severe Cyclonic Storm Nisarga was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the Indian state Maharashtra in the month of June since 1891. It was also the first cyclone impact to Mumbai since Cyclone Phyan of 2009. The third depression and second named cyclone of the annual cyclone season, Nisarga originated as a depression in the Arabian Sea and moved generally northward. On 2 June, the India Meteorological Department upgraded the system to a cyclonic storm, assigning the name Nisarga. On the next day, Nisarga further intensified to a severe cyclonic storm and turned to the northeast, ultimately making landfall approximately 95 km south of Mumbai. Nisarga rapidly weakened once inland and dissipated on 4 June.
Nisarga was the second cyclone to strike the Indian subcontinent within two weeks time, after Cyclone Amphan, the first super cyclonic storm to have formed in the Bay of Bengal in the 21st century, devastated the state of West Bengal on May 2020. Making landfall in Maharashtra with winds of, Nisarga became the strongest storm to strike the state in the month of June since 1891. Before Nisarga, only two depressions had struck Maharashtra in the month of June, in 1948 and 1980 respectively.

Meteorological history

On 31 May, an area of low pressure developed over the Eastern Arabian Sea and remained as a well marked low pressure area over the same region till the evening. It strengthened into a depression over east-central and south-east Arabian Sea in the early morning the of 1 June when it was centred about 340 km south-west of Goa, 630 km south-southwest of Mumbai and 850 km south-southwest of Gujarat.
Around noon on 2 June, the deep depression intensified into a cyclonic storm and thereby receiving the name Nisarga.
At 12:30 IST 3 June, Nisarga made landfall near the town of Alibag, at peak intensity.

Preparations and Impact

On 1 June, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, held a preliminary review meeting with officials of National Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response Force, India Meteorological Department and the Indian Coast Guard. On the same day, 33 team of NDRF were deployed in the coastal region of both the state. Fishermen from Maharashtra were alerted to return back from the sea.
Indian Prime Minister Narendar Modi, via a tweet on 2 June 2020, updated that he spoke to Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Chief Minister of Gujarat and Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu while assuring all possible support and assistance from the Central Government. As a precaution, 100,000 people were evacuated ahead of the storm.

Aftermath

Nisarga caused six deaths in Maharashtra, including three in Pune. Initial damage was estimated to be Rs50 billion.