New Delhi: After it was reported that Cyclone Vayu changed its trajectory from Gujarat and began moving towards Oman, it is now being said that it could move towards the state within 28 hours.
The cyclone may turn on June 16 and make landfall in the Kutch on June 17 or 18, PTI quoted M Rajeevan, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences as saying.
He, however, added that the intensity of the cyclonic storm is “likely to reduce” and may hit the coast as a storm or a “deep depression”.
It can be recalled that Cyclone Vayu was expected to make landfall between Porbandar and Veraval on Thursday, however, the weather department said it had moved westwards towards Oman.
More than three lakh people were evacuated from the coastal region of Gujarat and the union territory of Diu in anticipation of the cyclone’s arrival. The National Disaster Response Force, Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force and the Border Security Force were on high alert. Schools and colleges were also shut as precautionary measures.
On Friday, when news came that the cyclone was moving towards Oman, the Chief Minister said that the state was out of danger and that those who were evacuated could return to their homes.
According to the weather office’s latest update on Saturday, fishermen have been advised against venturing into north Arabian Sea and along and off the coast of Gujarat.
