As cyclone Nisarga heads to the western coast and is expected to make landfall off Mumbai by Wednesday afternoon, the country’s financial capital, already reeling under the coronavirus pandemic, has gone into a state of alert.
Ten companies of the National Disaster Response Force have been readied in the city, the Indian Navy has signalled its preparedness for rescue operations, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has asked the population to be safe and said his administration is fully geared to face the challenge.
Here are some photographs of how Maharashtra is gearing up for cyclone Nisarga.
IMAGE: NDRF personnel evacuates an elderly person in the Daman area of Maharashtra ahead of Cyclone Nisarga's landfall. Photograph: ANI Photo
IMAGE: Mumbai’s Juhu beach wears a deserted look as a red alert is put up ahead of cyclone Nisarga on June 2, 2020. Photograph: Kunal Patil / PTI Photo.
IMAGE: Indian Navy rescue team gears up to assist citizens ahead of cyclone Nisarga in Mumbai on June 2, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo.
IMAGE: An earthmover carries a boat as fishermen prepare to hunker down at Badhwar Park in Colaba ahead of cyclone Nisarga, in Mumbai on June 2, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo.
IMAGE: Lifeguards and the Mumbai Fire Brigade get ready for cyclone Nisarga at Mumbai's Girgaum Chowpatty on June 2, 2020. Photograph: Sahil Salvi.
IMAGE: NDRF personnel evacuates locals from Valsad region in Gujarat. Photograph: ANI/Twitter
IMAGE: Lifeguards on the alert at Juhu beach, Mumbai, on June 2, 2020. Photograph: Ashish Vaishnav / ANI Photo.
IMAGE: Mumbai's iconic Marine Drive is pelted by rain ahead of cyclone Nisarga. Photograph: Sahil Salvi.
IMAGE: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal wears a deserted look on a rainy day ahead of cyclone Nisarga. Photograph: Sahil Salvi.
IMAGE: Fishermen play cricket on the beach following the warning not to enter the sea in Uttan, Thane district. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad / PTI Photo.
IMAGE: Fishermen anchor their boats ahead of cyclone Nisarga in Uttan, Thane district. Photograph: Santosh Hirlekar / ANI Photo.
