NEW DELHI, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- India's financial capital Mumbai virtually came to a standstill Wednesday after schools, offices and business houses were asked to shut down, after city's civic authorities sounded a cyclone alert in the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

    But latest meteorological reports said Cycline Phyan may have by-passed Maharashtra state where Mumbai is located and its neighboring Gujarat state, although heavy rains are expected in the two western Indian states in the next 12 hours.

    "All schools and offices have been advised to close down for the day in view of the inclement weather that is likely to worsen," Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner A. Maheshkar told the media.

    The direction came after the Indian Meteorological Department said Mumbai and surrounding areas would face rough weather.

    "The deep depression is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm and make a landfall between Mahua in south Gujarat and Dahanu in north Maharashtra. Squally winds speed reaching 90 kmph, are likely to commence along and off Gujarat and Kerala coasts besides Lakshadweep, while it will hit Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra coasts during the next 48 hours," an official said.

    Earlier in the day, the Indian Meteorological Department has also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts.

    "With an expected wind speed of around 75 km an hour, the storm is expected to intensify over the next 48 hours. The rains have already affected air traffic in Mumbai delaying flights by at least 30 to 50 minutes. The BMC has warned fishermen not to venture in to the sea. Though a cyclone alert has been issued the actual storm is expected to brush past the city," the official said.

    Meanwhile, speaking about official preparation, Joint Commissioner of BMC S. S. Shinde said: "All our people are alert like fire brigade, the local ward officers, and the staff who have been tasked with rescuing people. Also, slum dwellers and those living on coastline have been asked to be on alert as the storm approaches. We have vacated some school buildings for temporary shelter."