Cyclone Phyan: 26 fishing trawlers missing in Mumbai

These trawlers, which have gone missing off Vasai and Palgarh coasts in suburban Mumbai, had ignored the Met department's warning that asked fishermen not to venture out into the sea.

Cyclone alert issued across Maharashtra, Gujarat coastline

Coast guard officials told media it is possible that hundreds of such trawlers are missing.

Government offices in Mumbai have been asked to close by 2pm on Wednesday. The city's municipal corporation has also asked schools and colleges to close early.

Cyclone Phyan, which is a level six cyclone, is expected to hit southern Gujarat and northern Maharashtra with 85 kmph winds in a few hours from now. A cyclone of level nine is most devastating.

According to latest reports, Mumbai is expected to be hit shortly after 3pm, and Goa is likely to spared by the storm.

"The cyclone is likely to cross Dhanu and Mahva in Gujarat around midnight.It is likely to intensify further and move northeastwards, crossing south Gujarat and north Maharashtra coast between Mahuva and Dahanu by Thursday," a met official said.

75 dead in Tamil Nadu rains 

Mumbai has already received a total rainfall of 39mm till 5.30 am on Wednesday. This is the first time that Mumbai has faced untimely rains of this intensity.

All emergency departments have been put on high alert and residents of low lying areas have been asked to move to safer areas.