32,000 evacuated from saurashtra

The state government on Monday evacuated 32,167 persons from Porbandar, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Kutch districts as precautionary measures amid strong possibilities of the cyclonic storm hitting the state coast between Porbandar and Naliya on Monday night or Tuesday morning.

The Met department cyclone warning at 1630 hours stated that the cyclonic storm is located 200 km south west of Porbandar at latitude 20.5 N and longitude 68 E and is likely to move initially in the North North-Eastern direction and will probably recurve and cross the state between Porbandar and Naliya.

According to the details given by the revenue department control room here 17,472 persons had been shifted from Kutch, 7,352 from Junagadh, 4,229 from Jamnagar and 3,114 from Porbandar to safer places.

Meanwhile, gales speeds of 70 to 80 kmph causing damage to kuccha houses and uprooting trees in the coatal areas of Kutch, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagadh and Diu districts will accompany the cyclonic storm when it hits the coast. Strong possibilities of widespread rain with scattered to very heavy rains with squally winds are also likely to commence in the affected districts.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture out in the sea. Danger signal number seven has been hoisted at Dwarka to Veraval ports, number five from Jakhau to Okha, number three from Kodinar to Umbergaon ports.

Republished from The Asian Age