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The IMD has issued an advisory for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, warning residents of strong winds and heavy rainfall from October 4 to 7
Fishermen have been strongly urged to avoid venturing into the sea due to rough to very rough conditions. (PTI Photo for representation)
The country’s weather scenario is set to worsen as the first cyclonic storm in the post-monsoon season, Cyclone Shakhti, has intensified over the Arabian Sea. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that the cyclone, which originated in the northeast Arabian Sea, has strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm, prompting coastal regions to brace for heavy rainfall and strong winds.
According to the IMD, Cyclone Shakhti is currently situated approximately 270 km southwest of Naliya in Gujarat, 300 km west of Porbandar, and 360 km south of Karachi, Pakistan. The storm is moving northwest at around 8 kmph, with wind speeds reaching up to 100 kmph and gusts likely to intensify further. By Sunday, October 5, the cyclone is expected to move west-southwest across the central Arabian Sea.
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While meteorologists do not anticipate a direct landfall on the Indian coast, its influence is expected to be felt, particularly in Gujarat and Maharashtra. In response, the IMD has issued an advisory for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, warning residents of strong winds and heavy rainfall from October 4 to 7.
Coastal areas may witness wind speeds of 45–55 kmph, with gusts reaching 65 kmph, and very high waves are expected along the northern Maharashtra coastline. Fishermen have been strongly urged to avoid venturing into the sea due to rough to very rough conditions.
Who Named Cyclone Shakhti?
The regional naming of the cyclone has drawn attention as well. Shakhti was named by Sri Lanka under the coordinated system managed by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
This system, introduced in 2020, allows eight member countries – Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand – to submit names in alphabetical order from a pre-approved list. Names are assigned to storms that achieve maximum wind speeds of 65 kmph or more, making Shakhti the first cyclone of this season to be named.
As the monsoon season draws to a close, the arrival of Shakhti underscores the continuing vulnerability of India’s western coast. Authorities are closely monitoring developments, and residents in coastal districts are advised to remain vigilant and follow official advisories.
October 04, 2025, 15:52 IST
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