Gujarat government has evacuated over 3 lakh people from low-lying areas of Gujarat
India Meteorological Department Ahmedabad today said that Cyclone Vayu will not hit Gujarat. The cyclone had changed its trajectory overnight and moved further into the sea. However, the western coast continues to be on high alert as strong winds and rough seas are expected for the next 24 to 48 hours.
The Western Railways cancelled 70 trains and curtailed the journeys of 28 others as Cyclone Vayu inched closer to the Gujarat coastline. The cancellations came into effect from 6 pm yesterday, and is expected to extend over two days across affected areas.
Gujarat government has evacuated over 3 lakh people from low-lying areas of Gujarat and 10,000 from Diu to safer places, the NDRF has "pre-positioned" 52 teams equipped with boats, tree-cutters and telecom equipment, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted yesterday.
The central government is "closely monitoring" the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, adding that he is constantly monitoring the situation with the help of the state governments concerned.
Here are the Highlights Of Cyclone Vayu:
Airports Authority of India says normal flight operations will resume at Diu and Porbandar airports in Gujarat from 10 am tomorrow.
Western Railways says nine more trains have been cancelled and another four short terminated with partial cancellation as precautionary measure in view of the Cyclone Vayu, reports news agency ANI.
Cyclone Vayu will not hit Gujarat: Weather Office- Manorama Mohanty, scientist at India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ahmedabad today said that Cyclone Vayu will not hit Gujarat.
- Its effect will be seen on the coastal regions as there will be heavy wind speed and heavy rain as well.
- The western coast is still on high alert as strong winds and rough sea conditions are expected for the next 24 to 48 hours.
- Port operations have also been temporarily suspended by the authorities as a precautionary measure.
- "The "very severe" cyclonic storm Vayu will not make landfall on the Saurashtra coast, but it will skirt the coast and affect Gir-Somnath, Junagadh, Porbandar, Devbhoomi-Dwarka districts and Union Territory Diu," said the weather office.
Cyclone Vayu changed its course overnight- Cyclone Vayu changed its course overnight. It was supposed to make landfall between Porbandar and Veraval this morning but now its moving further into the sea instead of moving towards land.
- Sea is expected to remain rough.
- All schools and colleges along the coastline will remain closed until the warning has passed, and naval diving teams have been kept on standby.
- To give relief to people in the coastal areas, various groups in Rajkot have made arrangements to provide food packets.
Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force on high alert- Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force and the Border Security Force have been put on high alert.
- While the state government Gujarat Chief Minister said all fishermen and their boats have already returned to the shore after getting the warning, ports have been asked to hoist storm warning signal number 8 and 9 to convey "great danger".
Ministry of Earth Sciences providing timely alerts: Harsh Vardhan- Union Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan said officials of the Ministry of Earth Sciences have been providing timely alerts regarding the impending cyclone.
- "I pray for the well-being of all families which may be impacted by #CycloneVayu, expected to hit tom with a wind speed of 155-156kmph on June 13 afternoon. @moesgoi officials are in regular touch providing timely alerts.
Flight services to 5 airports in Gujarat to be suspended- In the wake of Cyclone Vayu, flight services to airports in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod and Kandla will be ceased from midnight Wednesday to midnight on Thursday.
- "The Regional Executive Director (Western Region), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and all airport directors in Gujarat have been advised to be in readiness to handle any exigency occurring out of this natural calamity and to issue appropriate NOTAM (notice to airmen) action," AAI said in a statement.