Cyclone Vayu intensifies: Thunderstorm, lightning and heavy rains to hit Gujarat today
The Met department on Tuesday evening said that the Cyclone Vayu has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm. According to IMD, many regions on the Gujarat coast will see heavy rains, thunderstorm and lightning.
Cyclone Vayu, a cyclonic storm, is fast moving towards the north and is expected to hit the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva with wind speed up to 120 kmph on June 13.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday evening said that the Cyclone Vayu has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is likely to hit the Gujarat coast on June 13 morning.
In its forecast for June 13, the IMD said, "Gale wind speed of the order of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph very likely over the north Arabian Sea and Gujarat coast in morning hours and decrease gradually thereafter. It is very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over north Maharashtra coasts and northern parts of east-central Arabian Sea."
Anticipating the impact of Cyclone Vayu, schools and colleges have declared a holiday on June 13, the day the cyclone will hit Gujarat.
The met department has issued a warning of heavy rains and high winds at a speed of over 110 kilometres on June 13 and 14 in coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch. Orange alerted cyclonic storm is expected to bring widespread rain all along India’s western coast, as per IMD.
"I request the tourists visiting Gujarat and going to Dwarka, Somnath, Sasan, Kutch, to leave for safer places after the afternoon of June 12 so that you don't get harmed due to the cyclone. If it is possible, you can go back, it is a request," said Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani.
The Met department has made the following predictions for June 12-14:
- According to IMD, thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty winds (40-50kmph) are very likely at isolated places in the districts of North Gujarat region namely, Banaskantha and Sabarkantha in Gujarat during June 12 and 13, 2019.
- Heavy to very heavy rains very likely at isolated places in Saurashtra, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, Junagadh & Diu. Heavy rains very likely at isolated places in districts of South Gujarat region, in Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli on 12 June.
- Heavy rains at isolated places in Kutch district; at isolated places in the districts of South Gujarat region namely Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli during June 13 2019.
- Heavy to very heavy rains very likely at isolated places in the districts of Saurashtra-Kutch namely Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Morbi, Dwarka and Kutch during June 14, 2019.
The Met department has predicted that Cyclone Vayu will move over the east-central area and adjoining areas of the Arabian Sea on Tuesday evening with a wind speed of 90-100 kmph. Cyclone Vayu is likely to have a mild impact over the Lakshadweep area, Kerala, Karnataka and south Maharashtra coasts.
#Mumbairains have begun in view of #CycloneVayu https://t.co/WuhUIcCx6Z SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) June 11, 2019
A district administration in Mangaluru, Karnataka has installed boulders along the coast in Ullal after very rough sea conditions prevail in the region due to the approaching cycolonic storm Vayu.
#WATCH Karnataka: District Administration install boulders along the coast in Ullal in Mangaluru after very rough sea conditions prevail in the region. #CycloneVayu pic.twitter.com/3d0D4R4auN ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2019
The weather office has said Cyclone Vayu is very likely to move northward and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Veraval and Diu region as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speed 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph during early morning of June 13.
Rescue agencies on high alert
NDRF is closely monitoring the development and has mobilised 36 teams for pre-positioning in the vulnerable locations of Gujarat and Daman & Diu in consultation with local governments.
"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.
NDRF battalions stationed innearby states are also being kept on stand-by and directed to keep a close watch over the situation, the statement said.
Indian Coast Guard, the Navy, Army, and Air Force units have also been put on standby and surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out aerial surveillance.
Home Minister Amit Shah holds review meeting
Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on Tuesday 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. After review Home Minister directed the senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated and to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as Power, Telecommunications, health, drinking water etc. and that these are restored immediately in the event of damages caused to them. He also directed for 24X7 functioning of control rooms.
The meeting was attended by Home Secretary, Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences, and senior officers of IMD and MHA.
Cabinet Secretary has also convened the meeting of National Crisis Management Committee in the evening to review the preparedness of the State and Central Agencies. Chief Secretaries of Gujarat and Advisor to Administrator of Diu will also attend the meeting.
JUST IN: The Deep Depression in the #ArabianSea has intensified into #CycloneVayu, to become a Severe Cyclonic Storm by evening and intensifying further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by tomorrow. #Cyclone SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) June 11, 2019
On Wednesday (June 12), Cyclone Vayu is expected to intensify and blow at a wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting at 135 kmph over east-central and adjoining northeast areas of the Arabian Sea.
Cyclone Vayu is likely to go up to 60-70 kmph speed gusting at 80 kmph speed over Gujarat coast from Wednesday morning and become a gale wind with speed reaching 110-120 kmph by night. It is very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting at up to 70 kmph over the Maharashtra coast.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into Southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area, along the Kerala and Karnataka coasts on Tuesday and the east-central Arabian Sea and along the Maharashtra Coast on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Also, fishermen have been advised to not venture into the Northeast Arabian Sea and along the Gujarat coast on June 12 and 13.
Those who are out in deep sea areas have also been advised to return to the coast.
Valsad District Collector CR Kharsan said that everyone including the fishermen and the people in coastal villages have been alerted about Cyclone Vayu.
"Everybody has been alerted in Valsad district. Fishermen have come back. People living in coastal villages have also been alerted. District administration is completely on alert," CR Kharsan said.
Indian Coast Guard Inspector General KR Suresh said that 10 Chinese vessels had been given shelter at Ratnagiri port (in Maharashtra) on humanitarian ground.
"10 Chinese vessels seeked shelter at the Ratnagiri port (in Maharashtra) to avoid being hit by the fury of Cyclone Vayu. On humanitarian grounds, Indian Coast Guard allowed them to stay there under security cordon," KR Suresh said.
(With inputs from Kamaljit Sandhu, Ashish Pandey)