LIVE: Pinarayi Vijayan elected as CPI(M)'s Parliamentary party leader

The landfall process of the eye of extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae, ended around 12 am on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department said.

Picture credit: ANI

New Delhi: As Cyclone Tauktae continues to impact several states on the Western Coast including Gujarat, damaging structures, electricity lines, and uprooting trees, the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday informed that the cyclone is continuing to show a weakening trend.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be interacting with field officials from states and districts to converse about their experience in handling the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday at 11 am.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister`s Office (PMO), officials from Karnataka, Bihar, Assam, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi will take part in the meeting.

In another update, two arrested Trinamool Congress Ministers, an MLA and a former party leader, who were arrested by CBI in the Narada sting tape case, were taken to Presidency Correctional Home in Kolkata late on Monday night.

Stay tuned with the live blog of Zee News for the latest updates:

18 May 2021

14:41 IST

Odisha: There shall be lockdown throughout the state from May 19th till 5 am of June 1st. There shall be a complete shutdown on weekends, starting 6 pm of Fridays till 5 am of Mondays: Government of Odisha

14:40 IST

India has recorded daily recoveries of more than 4 lakh COVID patients in a single day for the first time. 4,22,436 recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours. Average daily recovery of more than 3,55,944 cases has been recorded in the last 14 days: Govt of India.

14:38 IST

Kerala: CPI(M) state committee appoints Pinarayi Vijayan as parliamentary party leader & CM. Ministers are MV Govindan, K Radhakrishnan, KN Balagopal, P Rajeev, VN Vasavan, Saji Cherian, V Sivankutty, Mohd Riyas, Dr R Bindu, Veena George & V Abdul Rahman: CPI(M) state committee.

14:37 IST

Kerala: All sitting Ministers have been dropped including Health Minister KK Shailaja. The party has selected MB Rajesh as Speaker candidate and KK Shailaja as Party Whip. TP Ramakrishnan has also been appointed as the Parliamentary Party Secretary: CPI(M) state committee

14:06 IST

Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan elected as CPI(M)'s Parliamentary party leader: party statement.

13:15 IST

New Delhi: Continuous efforts being made to ramp up COVID vaccine supply in big way: PM Modi.

13:15 IST

New Delhi: You are playing very important role in fighting COVID; you are like field commanders:PM Modi to district officials.

13:14 IST

New Delhi: Many of you worked despite being COVID positive; you gave duty foremost priority:PM Modi at meeting with state, district officials.

09:55 IST

Padma Shri awardee and former Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr KK Aggarwal passed away due to COVID19 at 12am: AIIMS official

08:16 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Due to severe cyclonic storm, unfortunate incidences have occurred involving three construction barges of Afcons working on a project of ONGC in Western Offshore fields in the Arabian Sea and one drilling rig of ONGC deployed for exploration purpose: ONGC

08:16 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Cyclone Tauktae lay centre over Saurashtra about 95 km North-Northeast of Diu and 10 km South of Amreli at 0630 hours: India Meteorological Department (IMD)

08:15 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Light to moderate intensity rain would occur over isolated places in parts and adjoining areas of UP, Haryana and Rajasthan during the next 2 hours: IMD

07:25 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Trees uprooted in Mumbai's Ballard Estate area due to heavy rain and wind.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Trees uprooted in Mumbai's Ballard Estate area due to heavy rain and wind.#CycloneTaukte pic.twitter.com/YuQuAcCApd

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2021

07:24 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: At least 60 persons from Barge P305 rescued till 11 pm today by INS Kochi &18 by an offshore support vessel in challenging sea conditions, due to Cyclone Tauktae. INS Kolkata also joins in for search & rescue of remaining crew; operation to continue through the night: Defence PRO

06:46 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Search & rescue operation Barge P305 continued through the night by INS Kochi & INS Kolkata. Offshore support vessel Energy Star & Great Ship Ahalya have joined the effort. A total of 132 personnel rescued in extremely challenging circumstances: Spokesperson, Indian Navy

19:10 IST

 IMD model with the satellite image has generated by METCAP for the Extremely Severe Cyclonic system TAUKTAE at 2.30 PM

IMD model with the satellite image has generated by METCAP for the Extremely Severe Cyclonic system TAUKTAE at 1430 hrs IST pic.twitter.com/Edts4ZvWni

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2021

18:14 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: At 1430 hours IST, Tauktae lay about 165 km west-northwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra), and 130 south-southeast of Diu. To cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva, east of Diu tonight: IMD.

17:43 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Mumbai Airport operations closure has been extended up to 2000 hours today.

17:42 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Arabian Sea turns rough, in wake of #CycloneTaukte. Visuals from Marine Drive in Mumbai. 

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Arabian Sea turns rough, in wake of #CycloneTaukte. Visuals from Marine Drive in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/ovbFFJPruQ

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021

17:33 IST

Maharashtra: Trees uprooted, streets waterlogged in different parts of Mumbai due to heavy rain and wind. Visuals from Juhu.

Maharashtra: Trees uprooted, streets waterlogged in different parts of Mumbai due to heavy rain and wind. Visuals from Juhu.#CycloneTaukte pic.twitter.com/4iHnHvJMB2

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021

16:47 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: PM Modi in a telephonic conversation with CM Vijay Rupani discussed the preparations of the state to face #TauktaeCyclone. PM also expressed his readiness for all help from the Central Govt to the state: Gujarat CMO

16:42 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: 962 people from Dholera evacuated to shelters. A total of 38 shelters functioning here. All individuals were transferred to shelters after rapid antigen testing. All Corona guidelines being strictly followed in shelters: Sandeep Sagle, Ahmedabad Dist Collector.

16:16 IST

New Delhi: Delhi High Court reserves the judgement on a plea seeking to stop/suspend construction work of Central Vista Project.

16:14 IST

Gujarat: On the day of #TauktaeCyclone hitting Gujarat, Railways carry more 150 MT of Oxygen relief, which is more than the average of 134 MT being logged since 20 days. Western Railway carried 137 tonnes on 16th May from Gujarat to various parts of country: Ministry of Railways.

16:13 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Mumbai Airport operations closure has been extended up to 1800 hours today.

16:13 IST

West Bengal: We’re moving to court. You know SC made a judgment during COVID-19 times that police can't unnecessarily detain, arrest any person. Despite that, CBI & police have arrested (our members): TMC MP over the arrest of 4 TMC leaders by CBI.

16:12 IST

West Bengal: Governor has vindictively done this without consultation of state govt. Governor has become a bloodsucker. He is now trying to secure a ticket before the 2024 elections from BJP, that is why he is doing whatever he pleases against TMC: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee.

14:48 IST

West Bengal: Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said "On 9 May Dhankar accorded sanction for prosecution whereas Subrata Mukherjee and Firhad Hakim took oath on 10 May. Hence, Dhankar was not the competent authority for sanction under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act 2018. Absolutely illegal act by Jagdeep. RESIGN."

14:45 IST

West Bengal: Dr Amit Mitra said "Utter violation of Democratic Norms & Federalist Polity by Modi-Shah controlled CBI,arresting 2 Bengal Ministers WITHOUT Assembly Speaker’s permission as per protocol. Political Vendetta after outright REJECTION by people of Bengal. Reveals Neo-Fascist mindset of BJP-Sangh Parivar."

14:45 IST

Breaking: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met CBI DIG and demanded the release of her three leaders. 

All four leaders will not be physically produced before the court. It will be paper production (virtually) and CBI will demand Judicial custody of these four leaders.

14:03 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Cyclonic Storm "Tauktae" very likely reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of 17th& cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during early hours of 18th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained surface wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Tauktae” (pronounced as Tau’Te) over East central Arabian Sea:Cyclone Warning for Gujarat & Diu coasts.

12:39 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: A flight traveling from Chennai to Mumbai schedule at 8.15 am today was diverted to Surat.

11:24 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: The cyclone very likely to move north-northwestwards & reach Gujarat coast today evening & cross between Porbandar & Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during 2000-2300 hrs as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph: IMD

11:22 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Heavy to very heavy rains very likely at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls in the districts of Saurashtra namely Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar ,Junagadh, Boatd & in Diu; in the districts of Gujarat region namely Valsad, Navsari & in Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli: IMD

10:40 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: 536 instances of structural damages (house collapse, roof collapse, pole uprooting) reported in Sindhudurg, 61 in Ratnagiri and 2 each in Raigad and Thane districts till last night.

10:35 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Moderate to intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 90-100 kmph is likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Raigad, Palghar, Mumbai, Thane and Ratnagiri during the next 3 hours: IMD.

Mumbai | Heavy rain & gusty winds were seen in view of Cyclone Tauktae

Visuals from Gateway of India pic.twitter.com/TryURytl3p

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021

10:32 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Bandra-Worli sea link in Mumbai will be closed to commute till further update. Take alternate routes: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

10:30 IST

CBSE: Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to meet with all Vice Chancellor's of Central University virtually tomorrow to review the online education in COVID19 Pandemic and Planning and Implementation of NEP-2020.

10:29 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: Due to cyclone alert, Mumbai Airport operations need to be closed from 1100 hours to 1400 hours of 17th May.

10:10 IST

Gujarat: Gujarat will experience light to moderate rainfall at many places very likely to commence over coastal districts of Saurashtra from today afternoon, with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places over Saurashtra & Kutch, Diu and southern most Gujarat region with extremely heavy falls at isolated places on 17th and with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places over Saurashtra & Kutch and Diu & south Gujarat region with extremely heavy falls (≥ 20 cm) at isolated places on 18th May.

10:06 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: It is very likely to move north-north-westwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of 17th& cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during early hours of 18th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained surface wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.

09:55 IST

Jammu & Kashmir: State Govt provides free COVID care kit to COVID-19 infected patients in home isolation. "We're providing oximeter, medicines including vitamins to COVID positive patient at home. It is an attempt to support people fighting coronavirus," says Tehsildar- Bahu.

09:52 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: People living on coastal areas of Malia in Junagadh were evacuated on May 16. Inspecting arrangements,Collector Sourabh Pardhi said,"Over 1200 people evacuated. All precautionary measures are being taken with food & shelter arrangements in place."

09:52 IST

Cyclone Tauktae: IFB Jesus stranded 35 NM off Kochi India Coast Guard ship Aryaman rescued Boat with 12 crew. Boat was taken under tow by ICG ship braving rough seas and brought to Kochi on 16 May. All crew members are safe: Indian Coast Guard.

09:42 IST

Very severe cyclonic storm is likely to move north-northwestward & reach Gujarat coast in evening hrs & cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Mahuva during night as the storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph: Meteorological Centre, Ahmedabad.

09:41 IST

India reports 2,81,386 new COVID-19 cases, 3,78,741 discharges and 4,106 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry

Total cases: 2,49,65,463

Total discharges: 2,11,74,076

Death toll: 2,74,390

Active cases: 35,16,997

Total vaccination: 18,29,26,460