Footage shows devastating Cyclone Tuaktae tearing through hospital in Covid-stricken India

At least 26 people have been killed so far by the storm as it has hit Gujarat, Kerala and other western states
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Dozens of people have been killed, and thousands evacuated as a devastating cyclone has brought shock flooding to the west of India

Cyclone Tauktae has brought strong winds, huge downpours and chaos to India’s west coast since Monday evening, as the country is still in the midst of a deadly Covid surge.

26 dead so far

Footage shows devastating Cyclone Tuaktae tearing through hospital in Covid-stricken India (Photo by SUJIT JAISWAL/AFP via Getty Images)Footage shows devastating Cyclone Tuaktae tearing through hospital in Covid-stricken India (Photo by SUJIT JAISWAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Footage shows devastating Cyclone Tuaktae tearing through hospital in Covid-stricken India (Photo by SUJIT JAISWAL/AFP via Getty Images)
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With wind speeds reportedly reaching 205kph/125mph, it is equivalent to a high-end Category Three storm and has killed at least 26 people so far.

The storm has also wrought major damage in other Indian states, including Maharashtra and Kerala, Karnataka, Goa.

Footage has emerged of the cyclone ripping through a hospital in Gujarat, with windows pulled out of walls by high winds.

The cyclone blasted the COVID hospital with wind and rain in Vadodara Gujarat, India, earlier today.

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The video, which had been filmed inside the facility in Gotri, shows doctors and nurses dashing to move patients away from the falling windows.

A few nurses were injured during the chaos but thankfully no deaths have been reported as a result of the terrifying incident.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Mumbai on Tuesday and warned that heavy rains with strong winds might occur.

Three teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were also put on alert in the western suburbs of Mumbai.

‘A terrible double blow’

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The cyclone comes amid a devastating second Covid-19 wave that has overwhelmed India's healthcare system.

The South Asia head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Udaya Regmi, said the cyclone and Covid-19 surge are a “terrible double blow” for Indians.

He said: "The potential impacts of Cyclone Tauktae are frightening as this monster storm threatens the state of Gujarat.

"Every effort must continue to keep people safe from this dangerous storm and the raging pandemic."

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