Ahmedabad, June 12: Gujarat is on high alert as the state braces for Cyclone Vayu that is likely to make landfall on the state's coast on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed that Cyclone Vayu, a cyclonic storm, is fast moving towards the north and is likely to hit the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva with wind speed up to 120 kmph on June 13. Teams of state and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are taking up positions in all the coastal districts. Cyclone ‘Vayu’ Likely to Hit Gujarat Coast on Thursday, Deep Depression in Arabian Sea Intensifies: IMD.

The Kandla port was temporarily closed on Wednesday as the severe cyclonic storm is expected to make a landfall on Thursday. Locals who live in areas near the port & fishermen are being evacuated to safer places by NDRF. In the wake of the approaching Cyclone Vayu, heavy to very heavy rains are expected at isolated places in Saurashtra, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, Junagadh and Diu. Moreover, heavy rains are very likely at isolated places in districts of South Gujarat region, in Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli on 12 June, the IMD said. According to details by Gujarat Chief Secretary J N Singh, around 280,000 people from the vulnerable areas along the coast would be evacuated from Wednesday.

The cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall in Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra in the next 24 hours, reports said. On Tuesday, Cyclone Vayu was located around 690 km south of Veraval. It could hit at a velocity of 110 km to 135 km per hour when it makes landfall on Thursday.  Moreover,  several coastal districts in the Saurashtra region were likely to witness heavy to very heavy rains, heralding pre-monsoon showers, according to MeT officials. Mumbai Rains: Cyclone Vayu to Affect Megacity Slightly, Moderate Rainfall Expected Tomorrow.

Landfall likely on Thursday (June 13)

Cyclone Vayu is likely to make a landfall in Gujarat on Thursday. According to details by IMD, the cyclone was likely to make landfall near Veraval between 6 am and 7 am on Thursday. Gujarat Chief Secretary J.N. Singh said going by IMD predictions,  the landfall would be anywhere between Veraval and Mahuva (in Saurashtra region), but most probably it would be near Veraval in Gir-Somnath district.

Orange Alert in Gujarat on Wednesday, Red Alert on Thursday

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Cyclone Vayu on Wednesday and Friday but a red alert has been issued for Saurashtra & Kutch on Thursday. The orange alert indicates that it does not expect the storm to cause much damage in Gujarat, where the cyclone is likely to make landfall on Thursday.

Centre Issues Advisory to Gujarat and Diu

In the wake of the cyclonic conditions, the Union Home Ministry on issued detailed advisories to Gujarat and the Union Territory of Diu, requesting them to take all precautionary measures. The  Ministry has urged the state government to ensure that no human life is lost in view of the cyclone "Vayu" which is likely to hit Gujarat on Thursday. The advisory also aimed at minimising damage to vital infrastructure and ensuring early recovery of all essential services after the cyclone makes landfall, a Home Ministry statement said.

The IMD has said that thunderstorm and lightning accompanied by gusty wind (40-50kmph) are very likely at isolated places in the districts of North Gujarat region including Banaskantha and Sabarkantha on Wednesday and Thursday. NDRF has mobilised 35 teams in Gujarat and four teams in Diu in coordination with the local administration.

Here's the tweet by NDRF: 

Rescue teams of SDRF, Army, Coast Guard, and BSF are also in the readiness. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off Gujarat coast during 12-15 June as well as into the central Arabian Sea and along and off Maharashtra Coast and into the northeast Arabian Sea from June 12-13.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 12, 2019 09:38 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).