Gandhinagar: The Very severe cyclonic storm MAHA (Pronounced as M’maha) over west-central & adjoining east-central Arabian sea has re-curved towards Gujarat but is likely to weaken rapidly and cross Gujarat coast around Diu as s cyclonic storm with wind speed of 70 to 90 km in morning hours of November 7.

The storm was earlier of extreme severe category but has weakened to very severe one.

As per the latest official bulletin of the met department Maha moved east-northeastwards with a speed of 04 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 1430 hrs IST today over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral Arabian Sea near latitude 19.8°N and longitude 63.8°E, about 640 km west-southwest of Porbandar (Gujarat), 690 km west-southwest of Veraval (Gujarat) and 750 km west-southwest of Diu. It is very likely to move east- northeastwards with rapid weakening. It is very likely to cross Gujarat coast around Diu as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 70-80 Kmph gusting to 90 Kmph around morning hours of November 7.

Due to its impact Heavy to very heavy rains are very likely at a few places in the districts of Gujarat region namely Ahmedabad, Anand, Surat, Bharuch; in the districts
of Saurashtra namely Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Botad, Porbandar, Rajkot tomorrow and Heavy to very heavy rains very likely at isolated places in the districts of Gujarat region namely Ahmedabad, Anand, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara; in the districts of Saurashtra namely Botad, Bhavnagar the day after tomorrow ie November 7.

Meanwhile the state machinery has geared up for rescue and relief operations in the coastal areas.Rescue and relief centers have been made. A total of 30 companies of NDRF is being deployed in the areas.
An official however said that the shifting of the people from coastal areas would be done after getting a nod from Met department which was keeping a close eye on the movement of the storm which might also weaken more than expected.

CM Vijay Rupani said newsmen in Baladia in Kutch district that the government was ready to face the cyclone even if it hit Gujarat coast with a speed of 120 kmph. All precautionary preparations have been made to ensure that not a single life is lost.

In Diu, the union territory adjoining Saurashtra region of Gujarat, 5 teams of NDRF are being deployed. Police would be deployed to keep tourists and other away from beaches. Similar exercise on other beaches in South Gujarat and parts of coastal Saurashtra has also been taken up. Most of over 12500 fishing boats in the coasts along Gujarat have already been returned ashore. The five day Kartik Poona fair in Somnath has already been cancelled in the wake of the approaching storm.

DeshGujarat