Cyclone Ockhi Live updates: All schools and colleges in Surat to remain closed tomorrow

Mumbai experiences unseasonal showers following the cyclone Ockhi in Mumbai on Monday (PTI photo)

MUMBAI: The maximum city is bracing up for heavy rains as Cyclone Ockhi, headed towards the coast of Arabian Sea, is expected to hit Maharashtra within the next 48 hours.

The Indian Meteorological Department or IMD has issued a “Very Severe Cyclonic Storm OCKHI” alert on Tuesday. 

A high alert was sounded in several parts of Maharashtra, with schools closing for the day. Mumbai Disaster management unit of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued an advisory against visiting beaches in view of high tide alert.

05 December 2017

14:36 IST

UP CM Yogi Adityanath hands over a cheque worth Rs. 5 Cr to PM Modi from CM Distress Relief Fund towards PM's National Relief Fund, for the cyclone affected people in Lakshadweep and other States #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/vPxxQaE43A

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2017

14:28 IST

The weather department has forecast intermittent rains in Mumbai and suburbs in the next 24 hours.

The traffic on Eastern and Western Express Highways in Mumbai has slowed down after rain in some parts of Mumbai throughout last night.

There are traffic curbs in some places in view of the rush of followers of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his death anniversary tomorrow.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made arrangements for accommodation in some civic schools for people coming from outside Mumbai to pay tributes to Ambedkar at Chaityabhumi in Dadar area here.

14:25 IST

Some parts of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway experienced a hailstorm early today, police said.

14:11 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter stating, "Continuously monitoring the situation arising in various parts of the country due to #CycloneOckhi. Spoke to all relevant authorities and officials. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected."

With #CycloneOckhi expected to make a landfall in Gujarat, I appeal to @BJP4Gujarat Karyakartas to focus on helping people across the state. Our Karyakartas should devote themselves to providing all possible assistance and stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 5, 2017

13:15 IST

All schools and colleges have been ordered to remain shut in Surat on Wednesday. The order has been issued by the district collector of Surat.

12:58 IST

"It's likely to rain today, there will be strong winds. People have been advised not to go out at night. Those living in kachha houses will be given shelter. NDRF is on alert. Municipality & local bodies are working on their level," says Mahendra Patel, Surat District Magistrate. 

12:46 IST

Mumbai metro has been running with a little delay. 

12:40 IST

The city has been receiving incessant rainfall since Monday night

A cold wave has gripped the city. Temperatures are four to five degrees below normal.

11:24 IST

Amid rain, the mortal remains of actor Shashi Kapoor is being taken for last rites ceremony from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

10:40 IST

BJP President Amit Shah's public rallies in Rajula, Mahuva and Shihor have been canceled due to Cyclone Ockhi 

10:38 IST

#OckhiCyclone mumbai #whenitrainsindecember #MumbaiRains #Ockhi pic.twitter.com/leaiAvwVry

— Sushant (@sushantssjadhav) December 5, 2017

10:29 IST

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off South Gujarat and north Maharashtra coasts from December 4 to 6

10:27 IST

Met department has warned of damage over Gujarat. "Minor damage to loose unsecured structures. Minor damage to Banana trees. Some damage and near coastal agriculture due to salt spray. Damage to ripe paddy crops. Minor damage to Kutcha embankments"

10:19 IST

Light to moderate rainfall at most places over North Konkan, including Mumbai, with isolated heavy rainfall also possible.

10:19 IST

Light to moderate rainfall is expected at most places in Saurashtra and south Gujarat region.

10:16 IST

IMD release says sea condition will be rough.

09:56 IST

Hailstorm on Mumbai-Pune expresseway near Panvel damages vehicles.

09:55 IST

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over north Konkan on 5th December (Palghar, Thane, Raigarh, Greater Mumbai, Dhule, Nandurbar, Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar and Pune districts), says IMD statement on Maharashtra rains.

08:37 IST

Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde took to Twitter on Monday night to inform all schools will be closed on Tuesday as a precautionary measure:

"Precautionary holiday declared for schools in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Sindhudurga, Ratnagiri, Thane, Raigad and Palghar Districts for the safety of the students due to the serious weather predictions on #CycloneOckhi #MumbaiRains," wrote Tawde.

08:37 IST

Visuals of rain from #Mumbai's Andheri. #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/609MTgxq26

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2017

08:36 IST

Light to medium showers hit Mumbai on Tuesday morning, as the city administration sounded a high alert over Cyclone Ockhi.

The Central Railway Mumbai Division has released updated the emergency numbers. An emergency cell has also been opened at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Kalyan. More than 250 railway police force and Maharashtra State Security Force personnel have been deployed on crowd management and other related activities at stations and yards.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued an advisory against visiting the beaches today and tomorrow, as the cyclone is expected to hit the coast of Maharashtra within the next 48 hours.Till date, the cyclone has claimed at least 20 lives with hundreds still missing after it made a landfall in Kerala on November 30.Search and rescue operations in the southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands continue and the Navy has deployed 10 naval ships and eight aircraft, round the clock service late last night for the ongoing rescue operations.