AAI:Normal flight operations to resume at Diu andPorbandar airports (Gujarat) from 10 am tomorrow.
'Very severe' Cyclone Vayu will not hit Gujarat. It will pass nearby from Veraval, Porbandar and Dwarka: Manorama Mohanty, scientist at IMD, Ahmedabad.
Its effect will be seen on the coastal regions as there will be heavy wind speed and heavy rain as well, ANI has reported.
Indian Coast Guard, the Navy, Army & Air Force units have also been put on standby. Aircrafts and helicopters are carrying out aerial surveillance.
3.1 lakh people living in the low-lying areas and the NDRF has pre-positioned 52 teams for rescue and relief operations.
Cyclone Vayu has turned into a ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm today. It would cause gusty winds to blow at a speed of 145 kmph to 170 kmph by June 13 morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.
The cyclone continues to progress towards Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat, the IMD upgraded its severity condition.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) started landing in Gujarat with the help of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to undertake preventive evacuation of people living on the west coast, an IAF official said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the preparations yesterday and directed officials to ensure all possible steps for the safety of people.
IAF’s C-17 aircraft got airborne from Delhi to Arakkonam today. The aircraft will airlift approximately 152 NDRF personnel and eight tons of equipment from Arakkonam to Jamnagar for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission for people likely to be affected by Cyclone Vayu in Gujarat.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue in Goa and Maharashtra's Konkan region.
When the cyclone skirts Mumbai at around 2.30 pm, it will be about 260 km away from the city. There could be south-easterly winds of about 55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph.
Kandla port in Gujarat has been temporarily closed because of the cyclone, reports suggest.
IMD has tweeted that this ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm is about 290 km west-southwest of Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The Gujarat government has said that the cyclone is likely to affect Kutch, Morbi, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Devbhoomi-Dwarka, Porbandar, Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir-Somnath districts.
People living in low-lying areas of these 10 districts are being shifted to safer places.
The Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force and the Border Security Force (BSF) have been put on high alert for the cyclone.
The Army has deployed 10 columns in the coastal areas of Gujarat. It has kept 24 columns on standby and is ready to carry out the rescue and relief operations, a defence spokesperson said in a release. Each column has a strength of about 70 personnel.
AAI:Normal flight operations to resume at Diu andPorbandar airports (Gujarat) from 10 am tomorrow.
Sparing Gujarat after changing course, Cyclone Vayu began moving away from the state coast towards Oman, even as the danger of heavy winds and rain in coastal areas continued, officials said here.
Though the "eye of the storm" is away from land, the cyclone's outer periphery would leave its impact on the coast, officials said.
State authorities have already evacuated three lakh people from low-lying areas near the coast to safer places.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, "According to IMD bulletin, Cyclone Vayu, which was going to hit Gujarat, has moved towards Oman. But the administration will continue to be on high alert for the next 24 hours."
Schools in coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch will remain closed Friday as a precaution, the chief minister said. (PTI)
DefenceMinisterRajnathSingh on reviewed the Navy's preparedness along the Maharashtra and Gujarat coast in view of cycloneVayu, officials said.
Senior Navy officials briefed Singh at a meeting in naval headquarters here during which he was apprised about various measures being taken by the force to deal with possible scenarios, they said
He was briefed about the ability and readiness of various assets of Western Naval Command (HQWNC) which were kept ready for deployment to the affected areas in case of requirement.
"The Western Naval Command, Mumbai is closely monitoring the developing situation. Indian Navy ships Chennai,Gomatiand Deepak at Mumbai have embarked with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and are ready to be deployed at short notice," the Navy said.
In addition, 5,000litresof drinking water is also being kept on board naval ships. (PTI)
Bringing relief for Gujarat, Cyclone Vayu Thursday began moving away from the state coast, even as the danger of heavy winds and rainfall continued, officials said. State authorities have already evacuated three lakh people from low-lying areas near the coast to safer places, an official said.
Heavy rains which lashed the coastal areas were likely to continue, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
"The cyclone is likely to move north-northwestwards for some time and then northwestwards, skirting the Saurashtra coast (and) affecting Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar and Devbhoomi Dwarka with wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph during the next 12 hours," the IMD said in a release issued at 5 pm. (PTI)
According to The Weather Channel, the very severe cyclonic storm Vayu is moving northwestwards. It hasstarted skirting the Saurashtra coast. Coastal areas of Gujarat have been witnessing persistent heavy rainfall and the IMD forecasts suggest that heavy rains will continue in the region at least till the evening.
Cyclone VAYU located near 20.5N/69.3E at 1330 IST is 120 km Southwest of Veraval & 120 km south of Porbandar. It is moving northwestwards & has started skirting the Saurashtra Coast. Heavy Rainfall likely to continue over the coastal areas during next 3 hours.
The Indian Navy reviewed all preparatory actions in coordination with State/ Civil administration of Gujarat for Cyclone 'Vayu'.
- The Western Naval Command, Mumbai is closely monitoring the developing situation.
- IN Ships Chennai, Gomati and Deepak at Mumbai have been embarked with HADR/ Relief Material, and are ready to be deployed at short notice.
- In addition, 5000 litres of drinking water is also being embarked on board IN ships. Seven IN aircraft and three helicopters are standby for deployment.
- Two Diving & Rescue teams, and three Medical teams are ready to render necessary assistance.
- Preparations have been undertaken to setup community kitchen at Dwarka and Porbandar. Aircraft and helicopters will be deployed for the damage assessment and Search and Rescue operations as required.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the preparations of the Indian Coast Guard and Navy for tackling Cyclone Vayu,and is monitoring the situation, reports news agency ANI.
According to The Weather Channel, latest forecasts suggest a total rainfall of around 500 mm between Dwarka and Porbandar in Kathiawar peninsula in Gujarat for the next four days.Saurashtra and Kutch are expected to receive widespread rainfall today and tomorrow.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has said that as per the current status, “effect of Cyclone Vayu is milder at most of the airports of Gujarat. No damage is confirmed so far”. Porbandar, Diu and Bhavnagar airports have been instructed to closely monitor the situation.
