State / Gujarat braces for cyclone Vayu, deploys quick response forces across districts

A deep depression over the Arabian sea that brewed over the past two days has intensified into a cyclonic storm, Vayu, and is likely to make landfall on the Gujarat coast Thursday morning, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Vayu is further likely to transform into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours, IMD’s Cyclone Warning Division said in a bulletin.

As per an IMD alert, “It is very likely to move nearly northwards and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Veraval & Diu region as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph during the early morning of 13th June.”

To minimise human casualty, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said his government will start shifting people living in coastal areas to safer locations from tomorrow.

Gujarat on alert

The Gujarat administration is put on high alert to deal with cyclone ‘Vayu’, officials said. CM Rupani said people living in the coastal belt would be shifted to safer places. He said that the entire coastline, starting from Kutch to south Gujarat, has been put on “high alert”. The state government has advised fishermen against venturing into the sea in the next few days, while ports have been directed to flag a danger signal.