As cyclone ‘Vayu’ advances towards the Gujarat coast, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said that the cyclonic storm is now at 280 km South-Southwest of Mumbai and the winds over north Maharashtra coast is likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph. According to the latest reports, the cyclone is located 340 km South of Gujarat’s Veraval coast and has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm. As a precautionary measure, the Gujarat government has declared holiday for school, anganwadis and colleges on June 12 and 13. The cyclone is likely to affect Kutch, Morbi, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Devbhoomi-Dwarka, Porbandar, Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir-Somnath districts.
According to PTI, the Gujarat government has launched a massive evacuation exercise to shift over three lakh people from low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions. The Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Border Security Force have been put on high alert. 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 defense spokesperson said in a release.
According to ANI, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off Gujarat coast from June 12 to 15 as well as into East-central Arabian Sea and along and off Maharashtra Coast today and into the northeast Arabian Sea from June 12-13.
As cyclone ‘Vayu’ intensifies, here’s a look at do’s and don’ts to keep in mind:
Do’s
• Stay indoors.
• Drink boiled water.
• Keep your mobile phones charged.
• Stock adequate quantities of candles and matchboxes.
• Stay indoors and do not let your kids play in water bodies and stagnant water.
• Switch off electrical mains and gas connections in the house.
• Make an arrangement of adequate food, especially dry non-perishable food items.
• Keep your first aid kit ready with essential items for safety and survival.
• Keep your important documents in a water-proof container.
• Rely only on official warnings.
• Keep all the emergency contact numbers handy.
Don’ts
• Do not believe in rumours and do not share any social media or Whatsapp posts without confirming. Stay calm.
• Avoid leaving your home, unless asked by rescue personals.
• Do not venture into the sea.
• Do not enter damaged buildings.
• Do not touch any open wires or electric poles.
• Do not stand under trees or any dilapidated properties.
(Inputs from PTI and ANI)
