<p>In what triggered a huge concern, as many as 273 persons were stranded on a drifting barge off the Heera oilfields near Bombay High region in Arabian Sea, nearly 175 Kms off the Mumbai coast.</p>.<p>The Indian Navy's Western Naval Command mounted on this major operation.<br />On receipt of a request for assistance for a Barge 'P305' adrift off Heera Oil Fields, INS Kochi was sailed with despatch for Search and Rescue (SAR) assistance.</p>.<p>Several other ships have been readied for HADR tasking in the wake of Cyclone Tauktae that has wreaked havoc along the West coast of India.</p>.<p>The ships are expected to reach the venue by evening, and other ships and aircraft also being prepared to go there for a search and rescue operation in the region clobbered by the passing Cyclone Tauktae.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/cyclone-tauktae" target="_blank"><strong>Follow all updates on Cyclone Tauktae here</strong></a></p>.<p>As the cyclone raged past the Maharashtra coast and inched closer to Mumbai Monday morning, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport announced the suspension of operations from 11 am to 4 pm.</p>.<p>A red alert has been sounded in the adjoining Raigad district and an orange alert has been declared in Mumbai.</p>.<p>The monorail services in Mumbai have been suspended for the day. Local trains services of the Central Railway were disrupted between suburban Ghatkopar and Vikhroli.</p>.<p>Gale-force winds, heavy rainfall and high tidal waves swept the coastal belts of Maharashtra and Goa as Cyclone Tauktae hurtled northwards towards Gujarat.</p>.<p>The cyclonic storm will intensify further and reach the Gujarat coast by Monday evening, the India Meteorological Department said.</p>
<p>In what triggered a huge concern, as many as 273 persons were stranded on a drifting barge off the Heera oilfields near Bombay High region in Arabian Sea, nearly 175 Kms off the Mumbai coast.</p>.<p>The Indian Navy's Western Naval Command mounted on this major operation.<br />On receipt of a request for assistance for a Barge 'P305' adrift off Heera Oil Fields, INS Kochi was sailed with despatch for Search and Rescue (SAR) assistance.</p>.<p>Several other ships have been readied for HADR tasking in the wake of Cyclone Tauktae that has wreaked havoc along the West coast of India.</p>.<p>The ships are expected to reach the venue by evening, and other ships and aircraft also being prepared to go there for a search and rescue operation in the region clobbered by the passing Cyclone Tauktae.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/cyclone-tauktae" target="_blank"><strong>Follow all updates on Cyclone Tauktae here</strong></a></p>.<p>As the cyclone raged past the Maharashtra coast and inched closer to Mumbai Monday morning, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport announced the suspension of operations from 11 am to 4 pm.</p>.<p>A red alert has been sounded in the adjoining Raigad district and an orange alert has been declared in Mumbai.</p>.<p>The monorail services in Mumbai have been suspended for the day. Local trains services of the Central Railway were disrupted between suburban Ghatkopar and Vikhroli.</p>.<p>Gale-force winds, heavy rainfall and high tidal waves swept the coastal belts of Maharashtra and Goa as Cyclone Tauktae hurtled northwards towards Gujarat.</p>.<p>The cyclonic storm will intensify further and reach the Gujarat coast by Monday evening, the India Meteorological Department said.</p>
