As the India Meteorological Office (IMD) warned that Cyclone Vayu would likely to further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of state and central agencies concerned to deal with the situation arising out of it.
According to an official statement, Shah directed senior officers to take all possible measures to ensure that people are safely evacuated and to ensure the maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health, and drinking water. He also asserted that these facilities be restored immediately in the event of damages caused to them.
A press release by the IMD read, “The Cyclonic Storm ‘VAYU’ (pronounced as VAA’YU) over the east-central Arabian Sea moved northwards with a speed of about 15 kmph in last six hours and lay centred at 0830 hours IST of on June 11.”
The press release further added, “It is about 350 km westsouthwest of Goa, 510 km south southwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra) and 650 km nearly south of Veraval (Gujarat).”
The release added that Vayu is likely to further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and hit Gujarat with high wind speed in the morning of June 13.
“It is very likely to intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to move nearly northwards and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Veraval and Diu region as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph during the early morning of June 13,” it added.
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In view of the warning of heavy downpour in parts of Gujarat, the state government has deployed the NDRF personnel in and around coastal areas of Kutch and Saurashtra, reports said. Mumbai will also be affected by the cyclone but not as severely as Gujarat.
“Mumbai will also be affected by the cyclone but not as severely as it is likely to cross at a distance of 250-300 km away from the Mumbai coast tomorrow early morning,” Deputy Director General Meteorology, Mumbai IMD, KS Hosalikar said.
The weather officer advised fishermen not to venture into the sea for the next couple of days while ports have been asked to flag danger signal.
(With agency inputs)