Gandhinagar:The Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm MAHA (Pronounced as M’maha) over east-central & adjoining west-central Arabian Sea is very likely to cross Gujarat coast between Diu and Porbandar as a somewhat weakened Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90Kmph gusting to 100Kmph by early hours of November 7 causing heavy to very heavy rain at several places and damage to crops, coastal roads and kutcha houses was also very likely, according to the latest observations of the met department issued today.

Meanwhile the concerned coastal districts have been alerted in the wake of the situation. The rescue and relief commissioner has convened a meeting in this regard. The state government was also in touch with center for possible rescue and relief operations.

CM Vijay Rupani also said that there was no need to panic about the storm as the system was fully alert about it and all steps to mitigate the situation were being taken.

Talking to newsmen here senior meteorologist of IMD center Manorama Mohanty said that Maha moved north-westwards with a speed of 12kmph during past 06 hours, and lay centered at 1130 hrs IST today over eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Arabian Sea near latitude 18.6°N and longitude 64.3°E, about 680km west-southwest of Veraval (Gujarat),730km west-southwestof Diu and 650km west-southwest of Porbandar.It is very likely to intensify further till tomorrow morning and weaken thereafter. It is very likely to move west-northwestwardsslowly during next 18hours,re-curve east-northeastwards and move rapidly thereafter.It is very likely to cross Gujarat coast between Diu and Porbandar as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90Kmph gusting to 100Kmph by early hours of November 7.

Meanwhile the related rainfall and other warnings about the storm which currently is causing a wind speed of over 200 kmph is as follows-.

Warnings:

(i) Rainfall: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places very likely over Saurashtra and Gujarat region (Junagarh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad, Botad, Porbandar, Rajkot) during 6th& isolated heavy to very heavy falls over Bhavnagar, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad, Botad, Vadodara on 7thNovember,

(ii) Wind warning- Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph likely to commence over northeast Arabian Sea along & off Gujarat coast from 6thNovember morning. It is very likely to increase gradually becoming 80-90 Kmph gusting to 100 Kmph along & off Junagarh, Gir Somnath,Diu, Amreli districtsand 60-80 kmph gusting to 100 kmph over Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad, Botad, Porbandar, Rajkotdistricts, 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over Surat,Navsari, Valsad, Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli from 6thNovember evening for next 12 hours.It will decrease thereafter.

(iii) Sea condition :Sea condition will be rough to very rough along & off Gujarat coast from 6thNovember morning

(iv) Storm surge storm surge of 1meter above Astronomical tide is likely to inundate low lying areas of Bhavnagar District and 0.5 –1.0 meter above Astronomical tide is likely to inundate low lying areas of Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad, Porbandar Districts around the time of landfall

(v) Fishermen Warning- Total suspension of fishing operations till 6thNovember. The fishermen are advised not to venture into Sea along & off Gujarat coast and adjoining north Maharashtra coast from 5th–7thNovember evening.

(vi) Damage Expected over coastal districts of Gujarat (Junagarh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar,Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad, Botad, Porbandar, Rajkot)and Daman, Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli: damage to thatched houses/ huts. Thatched Roof tops may blow off. Unattached metal sheets may fly Damage to embankments/ salt pans.Partial damage to power and communication lines. Major damage to Kutcha and some damage to Pucca roads. Flooding of escape routes.Breaking of tree branches, uprooting of trees. Damage to banana and papaya trees. Dead limbs blown from trees. Major damage to coastal crops.

(vii) Action Suggested for Gujarat coast (Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar,Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad, Botad, Porbandar, Rajkot)and Daman, Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli- Total suspension of fishing operations till 6thNovember, Coastal hutment dwellers to be moved to safer places. People in affected areas to remain indoors Movement in motor boats unsafe.

DeshGujarat