Cyclonic storm Vayu is expected to hit the coast of Gujarat by Thursday. This morning at 8 am, India Meteorological Department announced that a deep depression over the Arabian Sea over the past two days has intensified into a cyclonic storm. Cyclone Vayu is expected to intensify further.
CS ‘VAYU’ about 350 km west-southwest of Goa at 0830 IST. To move nearly northwards & cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Mahuva around Veraval & Diu region as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph during early morning of 13th June 2019. pic.twitter.com/LbjZI6RMwu
— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) June 11, 2019
The cyclone would have a mild impact on Lakshadweep area, Kerala, Karnataka and south Maharashtra coasts. IMD has said that Cyclone Vayu is expected to hit the coast of Gujarat between Porbandar and Veraval on June 13 early morning with a wind speed of 110-120 Kmph gusting to 135 Kmph.
The Gujarat government has deployed 15 NDRF teams in the coastal regions of Saurashtra and Kutch. The Army, the Navy, and the Coast Guard are also put on alert. Schools and colleges would be shut on June 13.
“All NDRF teams are fully equipped with various types of cutting, flood rescue equipment, V-SAT & Satellite communication equipment for rescue and relief operations,” the NDRF said in a statement.
Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, chaired a high-level meeting today to review the preparedness of all agencies involved in mitigating the incoming cyclonic storm.
Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, today chaired a high level meeting to review the preparedness of State and Central Ministries/Agencies concerned to deal with the situation arising out of Cyclone ‘VAYU’. pic.twitter.com/ME6UPelORO
— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2019
In the meeting, all senior officers were directed to ensure the safe evacuation of people and a 24X7 functioning of control rooms. They were also directed to ensure regular maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health, drinking water etc and speedy repairs when required.
Last month the extremely severe Cyclone Fani had hit the state of Odisha. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (ODRR) has praised India for achieving a minimal loss of life from Cyclone Fani.
