Cyclone Nisarga: UAE residents concerned about relatives in Mumbai

Dubai - The cyclone is heading to the Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts and has already made a landfall at Alibaug.

UAE residents, who have families back in Mumbai, are urging their relatives to take all safety measures as cyclone Nisarga is set to barrel the city. It is the first such storm to threaten Mumbai in over a century.
The cyclone is heading to the Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts and has already made a landfall at Alibaug.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said Nisarga is likely to intensify into a "severe cyclonic storm" with heavy rainfall and wind speeds of 110 km per hour over the next 12 hours.
A visibly worried Dubai resident Seema Ansari said: "My mother and my sister live in Mahim close to the sea. I have been watching the Alibaug videos and it's quite terrifying. If it hits the city, then we can barely gauge the havoc it will wreak. If it affects the tidal movement, it's okay but beyond that it may impact lives in more ways than we can imagine."
Another UAE resident Anjolie Warrier, whose mother- in-law lives in Bandra, said she was concerned about the 75-year-old woman as she is alone in her house.
She pointed out: "If there is a power cut for long, it will be a huge problem. The city is already grappling due to the Covid-19 situation and this cyclone can make matters worse, especially for the ones who are elderly and alone. We've asked her to keep the doors and windows locked."
Arijit Nandi, who stays in Dubai, has his brother's family living in Mumbai. He said: "I have advised my brother to stock up on essential supplies as things may be closed or may not be available for a couple of days. I was telling him that they should not leave loose and light weight items in the balcony as it can fly out and hit someone else. It's time to think about yourself and others as well ."
Echoing similar sentiments Abu Dhabi-based Farooq and his wife Zoya, who are both from Mumbai and have their kin living there, have also extended a word of caution.
Farooq said: "I've asked my parents to keep torches, emergency lights charged and have candles handy. I have cautioned them to switch off electrical mains and gas supply. I told my mum that she should especially check for any air leaks."
Zoya added: "My mother said she will be sealing important documents and jewellery in a plastic bag. I have also asked them to follow all government guidelines. But it makes us tense as we are so far away from them. I am trying not to go overboard but what happened in West Bengal was terrible. Let's hope it's not as severe in Mumbai."
nandini@khaleejtimes.com 

• UAE