Evacuation operations from 10 coastal regions of Gujarat are continuing on a war footing, with the state government evacuating over 1.64 lakh people to safer places in view of cyclone Vayu. The cyclone will make landfall on Thursday morning between Dwarka and Veraval.
An estimated number of 60 lakh people are likely to be affected due to Vayu. According to details given by the state government, 1,64,090 people were evacuated to safer places by 4pm on Wednesday. The highest number of evacuations were recorded from Bhavnagar. According to an official statement, 23,267 people were evacuated from Bhavnagar.
The NDRF teams that have been airlifted to the coastal areas have been helping the evacuations. The Army is also present. The biggest port in Gujarat—Kandla Port—has been evacuated and inward vessels have been suspended.
Vayu will be accompanied by rainfall. According to a weather forecast issued at 4.30pm on Wednesday, heavy to very heavy rains are very likely at isolated places in districts of Saurashtra and Diu. In Diu, a tourist place, all the hotels have been vacated.
Heavy rains are also very likely in isolated places of South Gujarat and Union territories of Daman, and Dadra Nagar Haveli.
The Gujarat government has aimed at a zero casualty policy. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has asked all the district collectors in the coastal regions to give the highest priority to shifting people who stay in rickety homes.
