Latest News: Gujarat on Alert as Cyclone Vayu Inches Closer; Tourists Asked to Move to Safe Places

In the view of Cyclone Vayu, which is likely to hit Gujarat with a wind speed of 110 to 120 kmph gusting to 135 km / hour on 13^th June (tomorrow), Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani has requested all the tourists visiting the state to leave for a safer place by today evening.

 According to the prediction of India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm is likely to strike the coast of Gujarat as severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 110 to120 kmph tomorrow morning.

CM Rupani while speaking to news agency ANI said, "I request the tourists visiting Gujarat and going to Somnath, Dwarka, Kutch, Sasan to leave for safer places after the afternoon of 12 June. If it is possible, you can go back, it is a request."

He told that state transport services will be asked to help and guide the tourists to move to safer places. 

Due to this situation, CM Rupani has also cancelled the 3-day Shala Praveshotsav (Welcoming to the school festival), which was scheduled to be held from 13 to 15 June 2019 across Gujarat. Schools as well as colleges in 10 districts where the cyclonic storm is expected to hit will be kept closed tomorrow & day after.

The severe cyclonic storm may cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat along with storm surge that can cause deluge in the low lying coastal regions of Porbandar, Dwarka, Somnath, Junagarh, Diu, Gir, Amreli & Bhavnagar.

Chief Secretary of Gujarat Jagdeep Narayan Singh & Advisor to Administrator Daman & Diu explained the NCMC of preparatory measures put in place to deal with the cyclonic storm. He also informed that nearly 2.8 lakh people from the susceptible areas along the coast will be evacuated from 12^th June 2019.

The Cabinet Secretary told that people from vulnerable regions must be moved to safer places and required food, drinking water & medicines should be stocked. All possible actions is to be taken to prevent any human casualty & preparations have already been made to restore any damage that may be caused to infrastructure.

The NDRF or National Disaster Response Force has mobilised 35 teams in Gujarat & 4 teams in Diu in coordination with the local administration. In addition, the rescue teams of Army, Coast Guard, SDRF and BSF are also in the readiness.