The Cyclone Experience

Just when you think the wost is over, a new calamity strikes. This year is one of the worst I have experienced in my 30 years.

For the first time in 129 years a cyclone decided to hit the coastal areas of Maharashtra specially near mumbai . And it Specifically hit Alibag, a place where I live and am currently Stuck because of the ongoing pandemic.

The cyclone is called Nisarga and it made its landfall in the coastal town of Alibag on 03-jun-2020 at around 1.30pm to 2:00 pm. Although its arrival started quite early at 11.00 am with heavy rains and extreme winds. I guess the actual center of the cyclone reached in the afternoon.

Since it was quite an experience and as I hadn't experienced a cyclone in my life as of yet, I thought why not make a note of it. 

It began with winds and heavy rainfall which is not unusual for this region from 11 am, by 1:00 PM, the winds intensified to the extent that trees started tilting and tin roofs started shuttering.

By 2:00 PM it seems it was in full force taking down 5 trees and along with it electricity poles in my area.

We could see tin roofs flying and then landing some other places. I was extremely worried about my motorcycle and car, since any damage now would be quite a blow and considering the pandemic situation, the spare parts are in extremely short supply, which probably meant the impact would decommission it for a while.

 Hut we took a smart decision of parking them in such a way between our buildings that any roof or flying debris would not touch them.

At about 2:30 PM the atmosphere changed and it seems the clouds were gone. There was little rain although the winds were at their max speeds. It felt something different, probably the pressure changes were so drastic that we could feel the difference. 

Around 3:00 pm the clouds came back and so did the heavy rainfall. My guess would be we were at the center which seems to have no clouds, maybe because they were circling around and maybe that's why there was little rain. Went the center passed over, I guess we were impacted again by the circling clouds, and hence the heavy rainfall like before.

By 4:30 PM the winds decreased by the rains continued. They went with same force in to the evening.

The experience was exhilarating and I was excited. There was relief that we suffered no damage, physically as well as materialistically.

I went down and started my car and bike and the engines let out their usual purr notifying me they are fine. 

The excitement vanished since the realization dawned that since electricity poles were uprooted, definitely there would be no power today or maybe tomorrow. 

This was a sad realization. The backup batter power would last for 6-8 hours and we need to use it as a resource.

By night, the rains didnt stop and mentally was prepared in case there were floods to follow. 

Nature has screwed us so much with pandemic, heat wave, human stupidity and now cyclone, I dont even care anymore.