Indian Meteorological Department explains why 'Mumbai survived the cyclone'

The eye of the storm narrowly missed the city, while nearby coastal areas to the south bore the brunt. The extent of the damage is still being assessed.

On Wednesday, Mumbai largely escaped a cyclone that barrelled through the country's western coast, despite early forecasts indicating possible destruction in the densely populated city.

Cyclone Nisarga was initially forecast to be the first storm of its kind to hit Mumbai since 1948. The state authorities had warned its citizens to stay off the streets and secure their homes against gale-force winds and heavy rain.

The Indian Meteorological Department has stated reason as why Mumbai survived the cyclone."It landed a little [further] south than what we predicted. But Mumbai may experience bad weather until tomorrow," said Madhavan Rajeevan, secretary at the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The cyclone barrelled into the western coast, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) south of Mumbai, with winds gusting up to 120 kph (75 mph), the India Meteorological Department said. After landfall near Alibagh, the cyclone headed in a northeasterly direction, it added.