Explorer

Hours after Gujarat CM's all-clear, Cyclone Vayu to recurve again; likely to hit Kutch next week

Cyclone Vayu was to hit the Gujarat coast on Thursday, but it changed course on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

Ahmedabad: A top Union Ministry of Earth Sciences official on Friday said cyclone Vayu is likely to recurve and hit Kutch on June 17-18, hours after Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced that the storm posed no threat to the state as it had moved westward. Cyclone Vayu was to hit the Gujarat coast on Thursday, but it changed course on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. It skirted the Gujarat coast, affecting Gir, Somnath, Diu, Junagarh and Porbandar. "Vayu is likely to recurve on June 16 and hit Kutch on June 17-18," M Rajeevan, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, told PTI. The intensity of the very severe cyclonic storm is also likely to reduce, Rajeevan said, adding that it may hit the coast as a cyclonic storm or a deep depression. He said the Gujarat government has been alerted about the possible recurvature of the cyclonic storm. Speaking on the IMD's latest weather report, Ahmedabad Meteorological Centre Additional Director Manorama Mohanty, however, said it was too early to predict if the cyclone will recurve and hit Kutch or Saurashtra. "The report says it may recurve in the next 48 hours. But it is also possible it may weaken by then and dissipate in the sea itself. Thus, it is too early to predict that it will come back and hit the Kutch coast," she said. Gujarat Chief Secretary J N Singh said authorities were keeping a watch on the situation and NDRF teams would continue to be stationed along the coastline for the next 48 hours. "Even if it comes back to Kutch or Saurashtra after 48 hours, the system may have weakened significantly. However, we are alert. If something happens on June 17 and 18, we're ready for that. NDRF teams are also there for the next 48 hours. We have not called them back," he said. Earlier in the day, after a meeting with officials in Gandhinagar, CM Rupani had said, "Gujarat is now completely safe. There exists no threat from cyclone Vayu now as the storm has veered towards the west in the Arabian Sea." "Around 2.75 lakh people, who were evacuated from the coastal areas, are free to return to their homes," the chief minister told reporters, adding that the state government would pay a total allowance of around Rs 5.5 crore to the evacuees for daily expenses over the next three days. "Schools and colleges will start tomorrow. We are also calling back senior officials and ministers, who were deployed in 10 coastal districts to supervise relief and rescue operations. Road transport buses have started plying in these areas today," Rupani had said. The cyclone, while not making landfall in Gujarat, brought moderate-to-heavy rains to 114 tehsils, the highest rainfall of 6.5 inches (160mm) being recorded in Talala tehsil of Gir-Somnath district since Thursday, a Met department release said. ALSO WATCH: Delhi Police arrest two goons in firing case on ABP News reporting team
View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

'Expired Fire Dousers, Faulty Alarm System': Jhansi Hospital Tragedy Exposes Safety Lapses
'Expired Fire Dousers, Faulty Alarm System': Jhansi Hospital Tragedy Exposes Safety Lapses
Lawrence Bishnoi Plotted Baba Siddique Murder Within 10 Days Of Firing At Salman Khan's House
Lawrence Bishnoi Plotted Baba Siddique Murder Within 10 Days Of Firing At Salman Khan's House
Jhansi Hospital Fire: Akhilesh Yadav Gives THIS Advice To CM Yogi, Takes Dig At Brajesh Pathak
Jhansi Hospital Fire: Akhilesh Yadav Gives THIS Advice To CM Yogi, Takes Dig At Brajesh Pathak
Delhi Man Stabbed To Death For Protesting Girl's Molestation, 2 Arrested
Delhi Man Stabbed To Death For Protesting Girl's Molestation, 2 Arrested
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Jhansi Medical College Fire: Akhilesh Yadav Slams Yogi Govt, Demands Action as Tragic Fire Claims Lives of 10 NewbornsMaharashtra Elections 2024: Amit Shah Slams LoP Rahul Gandhi Ahead Of Polls | ABP NewsCM Yogi Announces Rs 5 Lakh Compensation for Jhansi Tragedy Victims' Families, Rs 50,000 for the InjuredDelhi Crime: Gunfire Erupts Again in Delhi, Criminals Open Fire in Gokulpuri Area

Photo Gallery

Embed widget