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Cyclone Tauktae

Over the course of a few days, from May 14 to May 19, 2021, the devastating Cyclone Tauktae hit the west coast of India. Beginning near Lakshadweep, India, the category 3 cyclone continued its journey along the west coast, heading past states such as Kerala and Goa, eventually making landfall in Gujarat. The cyclone resulted in the deaths of over a hundred people and damaged several houses, displacing thousands of Indian citizens.

Between May 14 and May 17, Cyclone Tauktae traveled north across the Arabian Sea, gradually gaining more strength. The storm came close to the west coast of India, passing by the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala along with the territory of Lakshadweep. At its peak, the cyclone reached speeds of 220 kilometers per hour, making it the fifth strongest storm to hit the Arabian Sea since 1998. The strong winds and heavy rain produced by Cyclone Tauktae damaged houses, boats, and infrastructure, even causing flooding in Kerala. In some places, the storm produced as much as eleven inches of rain. During this period, the storm resulted in at least thirty seven deaths.

On the night of May 17, the cyclone finally made landfall in Gujarat, India. Here, Cyclone Tauktae killed at least forty five people. Additionally, at least sixty four people were injured, and thousands of people were evacuated to shelters farther away from the coast. Trees were uprooted and electric poles destroyed, forcing some Indian citizens to undergo nearly 100 hours without electricity. Near this time, the storm caused a ONGC barge to sink off the coast of Mumbai, endangering the 261 people aboard. The Indian Navy managed to rescue a large portion of the crew members, but eighty six people still drowned.

Besides the immediate effects of the storm, Cyclone Tauktae also had massive COVID-19 ramifications. Some COVID-19 patients had to be evacuated from healthcare facilities, and vaccines in Gujarat were suspended for two days to facilitate these evacuations. Over 2.5 million COVID-19 cases were reported in India during the week of the cyclone, and the weather crisis may have contributed to the spikes in cases.

Cyclone Tauktae was not a random event. The cyclone was instead a manifestation of climate change. In the past, the Arabian Sea was not at high risk for cyclones, but recently the temperature of the Arabian Sea has been increasing. The warmer temperature creates an environment that facilitates cyclones. Not only are there more cyclones, they are also becoming more dangerous. The cyclones are exhibiting rapid intensification, meaning that they are rapidly evolving from weak to severe cyclones. All of this, plus the COVID-19 crisis, places Indian citizens under extreme danger. Charities and ways to help are listed below.


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