The very severe cyclonic storm Nilofar over westcentral Arabian Sea moved northward in past 12 hours, and lay centred about 930 km southwest of Naliya in Gujarat. It would move north-northeastwards during next 12 hours and cross north Gujarat around Naliya by Saturday forenoon. According to MeT department, as the system would come closer to Gujarat coast, it would weaken and cross the coast as a cyclonic storm.
Under the influence of this system, rainfall at most places would commence along coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch with isolated heavy to very heavy falls from Friday night.
Sea condition along and off Gujarat coast will be rough to very rough from Friday night and would become high from Saturday morning. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into sea and those already out have been asked to return to the coast. Coastal hutment dwellers have been asked to move to safer places.
Danger signals number 2 for distant warning have been hoisted on all ports along the Gujarat Coast. Most of the fishing boats ventured in to the sea has returned to Gujarat coast following cyclone warning.
Gujarat Fisheries Department and Indian Coast Guard are constantly in touch with each other for safe return of all the fishing boats. State Government has geared up its machinery to meet any challenge arising out of the cyclone Nilofar.
State Chief Secretary Varesh Sinha has convened a high level meeting to review the administrative preparedness to face the severe cyclonic storm Nilofar. In-charge Ministers and Secretaries have been sent to their concern districts to monitor the precautionary relief and rescue measures.
Our correspondent reports that coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch have chalk out the evacuation plan for people staying in the coastal villages. National Disaster Response Force has alerted its three battalions based in Vadodara, Pune and Bhatinda for relief and rescue works in coastal areas of Gujarat. Seven teams of NDRF are already in Gujarat with fully equipped boats to undertake relief and rescue works.
