Current Affairs

India will remember the year 2020 for the natural calamities. The COVID-19 cases in the country are on the rise, the deadly virus has wrecked the entire nation. Fire in the Uttarakhand forest caused widespread damage. Last month a deadly cyclone brought lots of destruction in West Bengal and Odisha. Locust's attack in several states has added another fury. Locust plague has damaged plants, seeds, and greenery which became a disaster for farmers.

Another disaster on card

Another disaster is on the cards as Cyclone Nisarga is set to reach the Northern Maharashtra coast and the southern coast of Gujarat on June 3 evening/night.

Nisarga may bring disaster

The low-pressure depression over the Arabian Sea is expected to concentrate on a deep depression in the next 12 hours. The cyclone storm is named 'Nisarga' which is likely to intensity by Tuesday (June-2). Nisarga is set to bring strong winds as well as torrential rain over coastal areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat on June 3 which may be deadly. IMD issues a red alertThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a red alert for the people of coastal areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. Those fishermen who have already ventured into the Arabian Sea were asked to return by Sunday seeing the gravity of the Cyclone Nisarga.  Here is Cyclone Nisarga you need to know:

• The depression is located about 370 kilometres southwest of Goa’s Panjim, 690 kilometres south-south-west of Mumbai, and 920 kilometres south-south-west of Gujarat’s Surat.
• Cyclone Nisarga is likely to move over the Arabian Sea nearly northwards till June 2. The speed of the cyclone is expected to be 7kmph.
• Then the cyclone recurve north-northeast wards and cross north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts between Harihareshwar (Raigad, Maharashtra) and Daman during evening or night of June 3.
• The depression is expected to escalate into a deep depression by Monday evening. But it would become a cyclonic storm in the early hours of June 2
• IMD warned in its bulletin on Monday that Cyclone Nisarga would turn severe by the evening or night hours of June 3.
• The IMD has issued a red-coloured warning for coastal Maharashtra, Goa, and entire Gujarat for June 4.
• Intensive rain is likely to occur in some parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat amid Cyclone Nisarga.
• The IMD added that the wind speed of the Cyclone Nisarga would be 105-110 kmph when it crosses the coast on the evening of June 3. Nisarga is likely to leave its impact on Mumbai as well.
• The Maharashtra government despite facing the backlash of COVID-19, has been taking all the precautionary measures to tackle the Cyclone Nisarga.
• The state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray called a meeting last week over monsoon preparedness with senior government officials, IMD, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

With over 1.88 lakh COVID-19 cases in India, it ranked seventh from the ninth spot in the list of 10 nations worst hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. The country recorded 1,88,883 Coronavirus cases till Sunday night. US tops the list with over 18 lakh cases. India also recorded a new single-day jump with 8,380 cases in the last 24 hours till Sunday morning. The number of total fatalities linked to this virus has reached the mark of 5,000 after 193 patients died in the last 24 hours till Sunday morning. Besides, Monday would be the third consecutive day to record spikes in a total number of Coronavirus cases. Worryingly, the sharp rise comes as India reopening in a phased manner after nearly two months of lockdown to tackle the pandemic.

Another single-day biggest jump recorded in the country with 7,694 positive Coronavirus cases in 24 hours. As per the Health Ministry data, 265 people lost their lives, taking the country's total to 4,971. So far, over 1.73 lakh people have tested positive for the virus in the country. For the second time, India recorded more than 7,000 cases in 24 hours of time. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior officials to discuss further steps to be taken as Coronavirus lockdown extended thrice, ending on Sunday. A decision on the matter is likely today, whether to extend the restrictions amid the steady rise in the Coronavirus cases. Though, some states have already extended the lockdown.