Mumbai Alerts, Maharastra Alerts, Nearest all Village also Alerts

A cyclone in the Arabian Sea, are likely to reinforce and cross the west coast of India, near the financial capital of Mumbai, causing other countries in the region to issue a warning, officials said Wednesday. The cyclone, named Phyan of India Meteorological Department, was about 350 miles south-southwest of Bombay, as the agency Wednesday issued an orange alert - one step below Red Alert out of a strong cyclone. The storm was likely that the coast late Wednesday and early Thursday between Alibagh and Valsad areas, 110 km south and 200 km north of Mumbai, respectively, the department said. Expected to bring winds of up to 80 kmh.

Mumbai began to experience rain and strong winds Wednesday afternoon, and time is expected to worsen later in the day. The authorities in Maharashtra, where Mumbai is the capital, closing schools and government offices, and asked people to stay home. Several flights in and out of Mumbai was delayed Maharashtra official Johny Joseph said the administration had moved rescue teams to coastal areas. He added that people in low lying areas will be evacuated as heavy rains could flood some areas. The last one-day cricket match between India and Australia, scheduled in Mumbai were also likely to be canceled.

But some weather officials said the cyclone could brush past Bombay. "It is likely to move northwards parallel to [Mumbai] coast as cyclone may not directly hit Mumbai, said RV Sharma, a senior official of Mumbai weather, reporters. "But there can be severe weather disturbances that would cause heavy rain and strong winds," he said. "The sea will be very tough." The cyclone alert not only for Maharashtra but also in Gujarat state. One of the largest cities of Gujarat, Surat, known for its diamond-cutting industry, could be the worst hit, weather officials said.

Widespread rain was also expected in the southern resort state of Goa, Karnataka and central Madhya Pradesh. Coastal areas were expected to witness heavy rain and bad weather for the next two days, and fishermen in these states were advised not to venture out at sea, officials added.