Thunderstorm, rain hit Gujarat as powerful cyclone unleashes wrath
The 'very severe cyclonic storm' Vayu is approaching India's western coast with easch passin moment. Cyclone Vayu currently lays centred 470 km from Goa, 240 km from Veraval in Gujarat. India Meterological Department has said that Cyclone Vayu is likely to make landfall between Porbandar and Mahuva in Gujarat on June 13.
The IMD said that Cyclone Vayu will cause winds gusting upto 170 kmph.
The department has said that sea condition is likely to become very high to phenomenal on June 12 and 13. The warning has been issued for Maharashtra coast as well.
The authorities in Gujarat are bracing for the impact.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued detailed advisories to Gujarat and Union Territory Diu requesting them to take all precautionary measures with a view to ensure that no human life is lost, damage to vital infrastructure is minimised and there is early recovery of all essential services post-cyclone landfall.
Gujarat and Diu authorities have planned to evacuate about three lakh people from identified vulnerable areas starting Wednesday morning. The evacuated people will be shifted to around 700 cyclone and relief shelters.
The Home Secretary has called a meeting on Wednesday to assess preparedness. Officials from National Disaster Response Force, DDMA, IMD will also be present for the meeting.
Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has appealed Congress workers in Gujarat to help the public as Cyclone Vayu strikes the coast.
Top Developments:
9:11 pm - Watch latest update
9:10 pm -
8:33 pm -
8:26 pm - A mild tremor was felt Wednesday in Banaskantha district of Gujarat, but no loss to life and property was reported.
8:03 pm - Due to Cyclone Vayu, no flight ops at airports in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod and Kandla from 12 am Thursday to 12 am Friday
7: 04 pm - Watch latest update
6:01 pm
5:05 pm
4:51 pm
4:44 pm - Flight delays of over 20 minutes reported at Mumbai airport due to bad weather.
4:01 pm
3:36 pm - Parts of Gujarat experience heavy rainfall
2:53 pm - Home Secretary takes stock of the situation
A meeting chaired by Home Secretary is currently underway in Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi. Senior officials of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), IMD and other government agencies are present.
2:34 pm - Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani goes in a huddle with senior state officials
With less than 24 hours to go before Cyclone Vayu is expected to make landfall between Porbandar and Mahuva in Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is holding a meeting with senior state officials.
2:20 pm - Western Railway runs special trains to evacuate people from Gujarat
Western Railway is running two special trains to help evacuation of people in Gujarat. Okha-Rajkot train will leave from Okha station at 5:45 pm (1745 hours) today. Okha- Ahmedabad train will leave from Okha station at 8:05 pm (2005 hours) this evening.
2:15 pm - Authorities are bracing for impact. 52 teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed to assist people living in coastal areas and further inland. Evacuation of people has begun. Director General of NDRF S N Pradhan said earlier that people will be evacuated to a safe place by this evening.
2:10 pm - India Meteorological Department, in its latest update, has predicted 'heavy to very heavy rainfall' in Konkan, Goa, Saurashtra, and Kutch on June 12 and 12. Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea. The department has predicted a 'storm surge' of upto 2 metres above normal tides.
Watch | Gujarat coast put on high alert as as cyclonic storm Vayu closes in
