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nbsp;Cyclone Tauktae is likely to intensify into a "severe cyclonic storm" within 12 hours and may hit the coastal area of Gujarat by Tuesday, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday. The low pressure over the Arabian Sea near Lakshadweep has intensified into a deep depression which will intensify into a cyclonic storm, the officials said.

The cyclone is expected to cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya on Tuesday afternoon due to which Gujarat and Diu coasts are under a cyclone watch. Red and orange alerts have been sounded in various parts including five states- Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra and more than 50 teams of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) have been appointed to keep a close watch in the states.

Director General of NDRF Satya Pradhan tweeted that 53 NDRF teams have been appointed for the task that includes pre-deployment of 24 teams and 29 teams are on standby-ready for the five states. The IMD said that very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall that is likely to cause flash floods and landslides is expected over the coastal areas of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa till Sunday and Saurashtra, Kutch in Gujarat on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The low-lying areas of the Lakshadweep Islands are also likely to get flooded and fishermen have been informed to avoid heading to the sea. The spokesperson Navy also tweeted that the Indian Navy's ships, aircraft, helicopters, diving and disaster relief teams have been put on standby in order to provide support to the state administrations as and when the need arises.