Cyclone Tauktae arrives.

14 fatalities - Mumbai, falls victim to another unfortunate circumstance.

Mumbai had been on high alert for a week; now it has been hit by Cyclone Tauktae. The cyclone has caused 300 mm of rain, and its effects are also felt all the way in Delhi. Authorities have evacuated hundreds of citizens and placed them onboard INS (Indian Navy Ship) Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS. The 146 evacuated citizens are now adrift in the Arabian Sea.

There have been 14 fatalities and 18 injuries so far due to the cyclone. Tauktae initially hit Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerela first. Now it is moving towards Gujarat and is posing troubles for Maharastra on the way.

This cyclone has been named Tauktae by the World Meteorological Organisation. Tauktae is Burmese for saying "gecko," which refers to a high pitched lizard. Local meteorological departments suggest these names, and based on the regional networks; an official cyclone name is chosen.

Now some other questions, what are cyclones and why do they come up in Southern India so frequently?

Cyclones are created due to air pressure changes. The high temperatures (near the equator) cause the air in the surroundings to rise; this rise of air creates an area of low pressure below it. As the air pressure drops, the air in the region rapidly moves towards the low-pressure zone.

As the temperature continues to rise (causing the air to rise), the pressure decreases, which then causes more and more air to move faster towards the low pressure zone. This, therefore, creates a cyclone.

Cyclones thus need high temperatures and open space to form themselves. Both requirements are, unfortunately, met in the seas surrounding India. Which regularly instigates cyclones and tropical storms.

Overall, the local authorities are using all means and mediums to ensure that the safety of the citizens is maintained. There is immense (projected) damage which this natural disaster can cause - we can just hope that Tauktae stops sooner rather than later.