Cyclone ‘Vayu’ Changes Course Overnight, Now Likely to Skirt Saurashtra Coast

The ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’ Vayu has changed its course overnight. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted a landfall of the cyclone in Veraval of Gujarat yesterday. But according to the forecast today morning, the severe storm has moved towards the sea. The IMD bulletin issued at 8.30 in the morning said: “It is very likely to move North-Northwestwards for some time and then Northwestwards skirting the Saurashtra coast affecting Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar and Devbhoomi Dwarka with wind speed 135-145 kmph gusting to 160 kmph from afternoon of 13th June 2019.” This suggests that heavy rainfall and gusting winds will be seen in parts of Gujarat.

Red alert for the coastal districts of Saurashtra issued by the IMD is extended till tomorrow for the widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places of the region.

Coastal areas in Gujarat are likely to witness very strong wind, with speed of 135-145 kmph gusting to 160 kmph, over north Arabian Sea. Wind speed is likely to be 50-60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph, over North Maharashtra coasts and Northern parts of East central Arabian Sea today.

IMD has suggested regulation of rail and road traffic, total suspension of fishing operations, evacuation from the low-lying areas, regulation of movement of motor boats and small ships.

The Western Railway cancelled some 70 trains and also curtailed the journeys of 28 others. Flight operations at the airports in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod have been reported to have suspended for 24 hours from midnight.

In Mumbai too, flight operations got affected. As per PTI reports, as many as 194 departures and 192 arrivals were delayed and a few flights also had to be diverted.