Cyclone Shakhti, intensifying over the Arabian Sea, is set to lash Maharashtra with heavy rains, strong winds and rough seas, prompting disaster management authorities to issue warnings and prepare evacuation plans.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed several coastal districts — including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg — on high to moderate alert until October 7.
Winds of 45–55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph, have already been recorded along the northern Maharashtra coast, with officials warning that speeds could rise further as the cyclone strengthens.
The northern coast is already witnessing hazardous sea conditions, expected to persist until at least October 5. Fishermen have been cautioned against venturing into the sea, while low-lying coastal communities have been put on alert for tidal surges and flooding.
The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across coastal and inland regions. Intense downpours are expected in East Vidarbha and Marathwada, while parts of North Konkan could face flash flooding.
Shakhti, named by Sri Lanka under the regional cyclone-naming system, is the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season over the Arabian Sea. The system is forecast to track west initially before veering west-southwest, intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday morning.
“Thereafter, it is likely to continue to move west-southwestwards and reach central parts of the north and adjoining central Arabian Sea by October 5th,” the IMD bulletin said.
As of Friday evening, the storm was moving west-northwest at 8 kmph. At 8:30 p.m. IST, it was positioned about 300 km west of Dwarka, 330 km south-southwest of Karachi, and 360 km west of Porbandar.
By Saturday noon, the IMD reported that Severe Cyclonic Storm Shakhti had moved further westwards at 18 kmph. It was centred near latitude 22.0°N and longitude 64.5°E, about 470 km west of Dwarka, 470 km west-southwest of Naliya, 420 km southwest of Karachi and 600 km east-northeast of Masirah in Oman.
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Shakhti is expected to continue tracking west-southwestwards into the northwest and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea by October 5. From the morning of October 6, it is projected to recurve east-northeastwards and gradually weaken.
Under its influence, sea conditions will remain rough to very rough along and off the Gujarat-north Maharashtra coast and the Pakistan coast until Sunday.
The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the northwest Arabian Sea, adjoining areas of the northeast Arabian Sea, central Arabian Sea and along the Gujarat-north Maharashtra coasts until Tuesday.
In recent years, the Arabian Sea has seen fewer cyclones compared to the Bay of Bengal, but storms such as Tauktae in 2021 and Biparjoy in 2023 caused widespread damage.
The name “Shakhti,” with an added ‘h’, was proposed by Sri Lanka as part of the regional system involving 13 countries. While the Indian term “Shakti” means “power” or “strength,” the spelling reflects Sri Lanka’s transliteration under the agreed naming convention.
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