Cyclone Vayu News Updates: Storm Moving Towards Oman, High Alert to Remain in Gujarat as Precautionary Measure, Says CM Vijay Rupani

"According to IMD bulletin, Cyclone Vayu which was going to hit Gujarat has moved towards Oman. But still for 24 hours administration will be on high alert, schools of 10 districts will stay closed tomorrow," said Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

Western Railway: Nine more trains cancelled and another four short terminated with partial cancellation as precautionary measure in view of Cyclone Vayu.

According to IMD, Cyclone Vayu is now moving northwestwards and has started skirting Saurashtra coast. It further said that heavy spells of rainfall are continuing over coastal areas and are likely to go on for the next three hours.

Gujarat: NDRF rescued a pregnant woman requiring pre-term delivery from Shiyalbet village, where boats are the only mode of transportation & brought her to a hospital in Jafarabad. The woman successfully delivered a baby boy, condition of both the child and mother is stable.

Gujarat CMO: PM Narendra Modi held telephonic conversation with Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on cyclone preparedness immediately after reaching Bishkek and assured all assistance and support from Central Govt to mitigate the effects of Cyclone Vayu. 

According to IMD Ahmedabad, at present, Vayu is 160 km south-southwest of Diu, 110 km southwest of Veraval (Gujarat) and 140 km south of Porbandar  (Gujarat). The cyclonic storm is very likely to move north-northwest for some time and then north-west skirting the Saurashtra coast affecting Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar and Devbhoomi Dwarka with wind speed 135-145 kmph gusting to 160 kmph.

In the wake of Cyclone Vayu, operations at airports in Gujarat were temporarily suspended. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the impact of cyclone Vayu has been milder at most airports in Gujarat and there has been no damage to aerodromes' infrastructure so far. To avoid disruptions and damages to infrastructure, the AAI has suspended flight operations at airports in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod and Kandla for 24 hours starting midnight Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall lashed the Gujarat coast on Thursday as it nears coast. Also high wind speed of up to 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph likely over north Maharashtra Coast. The National Disaster Management Authority of India (NDMA) has tweeted saying, "Gale winds speed of the order of 135-145 kmph gusting to 160 kmph very likely to prevail over the north Arabian Sea and Gujarat coast. It is very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over north Maharashtra Coast and northern parts of east-central Arabian Sea."

According to latest update of Cyclone Vayu, the cyclonic storm is not likely to hit Gujarat, but strong winds and rainfall will hit the coastal regions. Reports inform that 70 mm rain in southwest Gujarat is expected over the next 48 hours.

The severe cyclonic storm that was to make a landfall on the Gujarat coast on Thursday is believed to dissolve before reaching Karachi coast, a report by private weather agency Skymet weather reported. Read Full Story Here

Cyclone Vayu won't make landfall in Gujarat but coastal regions of Saurashtra to witness strong winds, heavy rains, says IMD. According to Skymet Weather, the cyclone which at present is Category 2 storm may weaken into a Category 1 storm.

Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secy, Revenue Department, Gujarat Govt:
Govt alertness for Cyclone Vayu continues with same intensity. Persons shifted to shelter homes to stay there. People should continue to stay in safe areas. Their preparedness to continue at same level.

In the wake of Cyclone Vayu, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has said flight operations at airports in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod, Kandla will be suspended for 24 hours from midnight in view of Cyclone Vayu. Air passengers to and from Mumbai had a tough time on Wednesday as nearly 400 flights were affected due to bad weather caused by Vayu. 

Somnath Temple remains open despite alert issued in view of Cyclone Vayu. Gujarat Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said temples can't be closed and tourists have been requested not to visit, but 'aarti' being performed since many years can't be stopped.

Cyclone Vayu likely to weaken into Category 1 storm after skirting along the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat. However, high wind speeds still likely in coastal areas. According to Skymet Weather, Vayu may encounter weak steering environment, due to which the system may have changed its track. As the system curves north-northwest, Vayu’s speed will also become slow. 

Thousands of people living near coastal areas in the state have been evacuated as Cyclone Vayu is closing in. A portal - earth.nullschool.net - tracks movements of cyclonic winds and storms across the world. The tracker gives real-time updates on movements of cyclones. Cyclone Vayu Live Tracker: Watch Real-Time Movement Of Cyclonic Storm on earth.nullschool.net

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IMD Mumbai informed that the extent of cyclone is over 900 km. So while eye of cyclone may or may not hit Porbandar, system will still hit the Gujarat coast. Accompanying risk factors such as wind and storm surge and rainfall, all 3 stay very much threat factors. 

Gujarat: Six teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on alert in Porbandar; As per latest update of IMD, Cyclone Vayu won't hit Gujarat, but will have effect on coastal districts.

Manorama Mohanty, scientist at India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ahmedabad: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Vayu to skit along Saurashtra Coast this afternoon with a wind speed 135-160 kmph. Coastal districts Diu, Gir Somnath, Junagarh, Porbandar, Dwarka will be affected.

Maharashtra: In view of Cyclone Vayu in Arabian Sea coupled with high tide on June 12 & 13, all beaches in Konkan region have been shut off to the public.