As Gujarat braces for #CycloneVayu, Home Minister Shah reviews preparedness
As Cyclone Vayu continues to intensify and is expected to make a landfall in Gujarat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of state and central ministries/agencies. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Vayu is likely to hit Gujarat's coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Veraval and Diu with up to 110-135kmph wind speed on 13 June.
Preparedness to deal with situation arising out of Cyclone Vayu
Cyclone Vayu to make a landfall as severe Cyclonic Storm
Cyclone Vayu is expected to make a landfall in Gujarat as a severe Cyclonic Storm on Thursday early morning. Coastal districts of the state are expected to receive heavy rainfall and experience storm surge as high as 1-1.5 meters above the astronomical tides. This might inundate low-lying coastal areas like Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagarh, Diu, Gir Somnath, Amreli, and Bhavnagar.
Shah directs officials to ensure safe evacuation of people
Following the review meeting, the Union Home Ministers instructed concerned senior officers to ensure the safe evacuation of people in areas likely to be affected. Shah directed them to ensure the maintenance of services like drinking water, health services, power, telecommunications, etc. He gave instructions for round-the-clock functioning of control rooms and immediate restoration of these essential services in the event of any damages.
Home Secretary, senior IMD and Home Ministry officials among attendees
Notably, the meeting chaired by Shah was attended by Home Secretary, Secretary of Earth Sciences Ministry, and senior officers of Home Affairs Ministry and IMD. Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha also convened a National Crisis Management Committee meeting to review the preparedness of state and central agencies. Chief Secretaries of Gujarat, as well as Advisor to Administrator of Diu, were expected to attend.
26 NDRF teams already deployed in Gujarat
On Cyclone Vayu, the Home Affairs Ministry stated that it is in continuous touch with the concerned governments of states, Union Territories, and central agencies. Twenty-six NDRF teams have already been deployed in Gujarat and 10 more teams were being dispatched upon Gujarat government's request.
