Light to moderate rains are expected in parts of Maharashtra on Thursday as the Severe Cyclonic Storm Maha moves towards coastal areas of Saurashtra in Gujarat. On Wednesday, Cyclone Maha moved towards 810 km SSE of Paradip. There is a deep depression forming in the Bay of Bengal as well. The depression is likely to bring more rains in India's eastern coast of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Madhya Maharashtra, Thane and Palghar districts will receive light to moderate showers on Thursday due to the cyclonic storm hovering in the Arabian sea.
"Cyclonic Storm Maha over Arabian Sea weakened into a deep depression. Centered abt 180 km west-southwest of Diu. To move east-northeastwards & weaken further. Cyclonic Storm Bulbul over BoB abt 730 km south-southeast of Paradip. To move north-northwestwards & intensify further," the India Met Department tweeted an hour ago.
"The severe cyclonic storm Maha is weakening but moving towards the coastal areas of Gujarat. Its impact will be in the form of light to moderate showers in Madhya Maharashtra as well as Thane and Palghar districts," it said.
"It will turn into a deep depression by Thursday morning, which means lessening of its severity, an IMD official said.
Meanwhile, Thane and Palghar district administrations have stepped up preparedness to deal with any eventuality in view of the cyclonic storm.
While the Palghar district administration had already ordered the closure of educational institutions between November 6 and 8, the collector of Thane district directed officials on Wednesday to take a call depending upon the situation.
Palghar Collector Kailas Shinde directed senior officials to be on toes in view of the cyclonic storm warning. Thane Collector Rajesh Narvekar has also given a set of directions to different departments.
"Closure of educational institutions is ordered as per necessity in Thane," an official release said.
However, as per the prediction made by the IMD on Wednesday, 'Maha' is likely to fizzle out into the Arabian sea as a 'depression' by Thursday evening.
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