30 trawlers missing off Goa coast, cyclone skips Mumbai -

Mumbai: Cyclone Phyan bypassed Mumbai and the threat alert has been reduced for the city. The alert level in neighbouring Gujarat has also been downgraded. However, heavy rains continue to lash Mumbai and the rainfall is expected to continue for the next 48 hours in the city and adjoining areas. However, about 30 trawlers carrying about 200 crew members went missing off coast in India's western Goa on Wednesday (November 11) after the cyclone created disturbance in the Arabian Sea. Menino Fonsaca, chairman of Trawlers Association said that 30 trawlers have not returned and lost contact with the base. "About 30 trawlers are missing, with their crew members about 200. We have contacted the Coast Guard in the morning but till now there is no any information given to us about our trawlers. We have also contacted our Directorate of Fisheries but there is no response from any government office," said Menino Fonsaca, chairman, Trawlers Association. Meanwhile, the meteorological department has said that the coastal areas of Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat state are no longer threatened by the Cyclone Phyan but predicted heavy downpour in parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat in the next 24 hours. Earlier, the Government on Wednesday issued advisories to eight coastal States and Union Territories over cyclone Phyan and put the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) batallions in Gujarat and Maharashtra on alert. The movement of a depression in the central Arabian sea region since early Tuesday morning was watched very closely by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Assessing the impact of its movement, in consultation with the IMD, Ministry of Home Affairs sent advisories to the concerned State Governments of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Union Territories of Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep, every few hours. Eight such advisories had been sent till Wednesday evening. "Following the movement of this cyclonic depression and the consequential heavy rainfall caused by it, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Bns. in Maharashtra and Gujarat have been put on the alert," said an MHA release. "Simultaneously, to meet any emergent requirement of rescue and relief, the NDRF teams comprising about 400 trained personnel with boats and other equipments, have been pre-positioned in Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Another 200 have been kept in readiness for Mumbai. Ministry of Defence has also alerted the Air Force," the release added. The cyclonic system has, however, moved north-eastwards due to which the IMD has withdrawn the warning from the States of Gujarat and Goa. The IMD has alerted Maharashtra on the possibility of heavy rainfall in Maharashtra region, the MHA release stated. However, the Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence have kept themselves in readiness to assist in any rescue and relief operations, if required.