Mumbai: Flight operations at Mumbai airport resumed on Monday night after being suspended for 11 hours due to the cyclone Tauktae.
More than 55 flights, both incoming and outbound, were cancelled at the city's till around 7.30 pm due to the closure.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport had announced suspension of all air services, initially for three hours from 11 am on Monday due to the cyclone. This was later extended eventually to 10 pm in different phases.
"Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has resumed operations with effect from 2200 hours of May 17," the private airport operator said in a statement.
The airport operator said it has registered the cancellations of 34 arrivals and 22 departures, adding that a few airlines have decided to cancel services to Mumbai.
CSMIA, however, did not provide specific details.
Mumbai airport, which is the second busiest aerodrome in the country, is reportedly handling around 250 flights in a day due to low passenger demand amid the deadly and more virulent second wave of the pandemic.
Pre-pandemic, the airport was handling close to 1,000 aircraft movements per day.
The airport has also so far witnessed seven diversions, it added.
Winds blew at 114 kmph in Mumbai on Monday afternoon as the extremely severe cyclonic storm Tauktae was passing through the Mumbai coast barrelling towards Gujarat, officials said.
Indian Navy Deploys 3 Warships To Rescue Over 400 People Onboard 2 Barges Adrift Off Mumbai
The Indian Navy on Monday deployed three of its frontline warships to rescue over 400 people onboard two barges off the Mumbai coast as cyclone Tauktae roared up the western coast.
Navy officials said 38 people out of 137 onboard 'GAL Constructor' were rescued under extreme weather conditions and very rough seas.
The ships deployed to extend assistance to the two barges are INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Talwar, Navy officials said.
"On receipt of a request for assistance for a barge 'P305' adrift off Heera oil fields in Bombay high area with 273 personnel onboard, INS Kochi was swiftly sailed with a despatch for search and rescue assistance," Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.
He said INS Talwar has also been deployed for the search and rescue operation.
"In response to another SOS received from barge 'GAL Constructor' with 137 people onboard about 8NM from Mumbai, INS Kolkata has been sailed with despatch to render assistance," Commander Madhwal said.
He said several other ships and aircraft have also been readied for HARD (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) operations in the wake of cyclone Tauktae.
Earlier in the day, a naval helicopter rescued four crew members of an Indian vessel named 'Coromondel Supporter IX' that was adrift in the Arabian sea, Commander Madhawal said.
He said rough seas due to cyclone Tauktae resulted in flooding of the vessel's machinery compartments rendering it without propulsion and power supply.
"In a swift response to SOS by an Indian vessel adrift in the Arabian Sea, a naval helicopter was dispatched for rescuing the stranded crew of Indian flagged Tug 'Coromondel Supporter IX', which was adrift North West of Mangalore, Karnataka," he said.
He said the helicopter was sent after attempts to rescue the crew by a boat failed.
About the Navy's response to deal with the fallout of the cyclone, the spokesperson said 11 diving teams have been kept on standby for deployment in case of any request from state authorities.
He said 12 flood rescue teams and medical teams have also been kept ready for immediate response and deployment.
"Repair and rescue teams have been formed to undertake urgent infrastructural repairs post-cyclone if required," Commander Madhwal said.
"Various ships along the Western seaboard are standby with aid and relief material for immediate assistance to affected areas as required and to provide assistance to fishing boats/ small boats stranded due to rough weather," he said.
Commander Madhwal said the Navy's maritime reconnaissance aircraft on surveillance are continuously broadcasting cyclone warnings to fishermen.