Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meetingto review the preparedness of states and central ministries concerned to deal with the situation arising out of Cyclone ‘Tauktae, which intensified into a "very severe cyclonic storm" over the east-central Arabian Sea. India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that Cyclone Tauktae is expected to touch Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Naliya around May 18 afternoon /evening with the wind speed ranging upto 175 kmph.

It is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat, including extremely heavy falls in Junagadh & Gir Somnath, IBNS said. 

The IMD also warned of storm surge of about  2- 3 m above astronomical tide to inundate coastal areas of Morbi,  Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka & Jamnagar districts and  1-2 meters along Porbandar, Junagarh, Diu, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar and 0.5 to 1m over the remaining coastal districts of Gujarat during 18th May afternoon/ evening around the time of landfall.

Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. Indian Air Force and engineering task force units of the Indian Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment.

Seven ships with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Units are on standby along western coast. Surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out serial surveillance along the western coast. Disaster Relief teams (DRTs) and Medical Teams (MTs) are standby at Trivandrum, Kannur and other locations along the western coast.