West coast India ports stay shut after cyclone hits

Several major ports on India's west coast remain closed after Cyclone Tauktae made landfall in Gujarat state last night.

The cyclone was last located over Saurashtra, on the coast, according to the India Meteorological Department's latest bulletin, and is forecast to move north-northeast before gradually weakening into a deep depression later today.

Pipavav, Dahej, Hazira and Vadinar ports in Gujarat have closed and suspended operations, while Mundra, Kandla and Sikka ports are in the process of resuming operations, according to GAC Shipping.

Operations at Kandla and Mundra port may be closed until tomorrow and will resume on 20 May, a broker involved in the export trade said.

The bad weather also affected three barges and a drill ship owned by state-controlled upstream firm ONGC. The vessels lost anchors and drifted away off the coast of Mumbai in the early hours of yesterday. The barges Papaa-305, Support Station-3 and Gal Constructor drifted after anchors gave away, and drill ship Sagar Bhushan drifted north, ONGC said. Rescue and support operations are underway.

By Sathya Narayanan