india

Updated: Jun 12, 2019 22:08 IST

Thousands of people are being evacuated in Gujarat hours before Cyclone Vayu hits the state in western India.

Cyclone Vayu intensified into a “very severe cyclonic storm on Wednesday. It is expected to make landfall on Thursday between 8 am and 12 noon.

“Cyclone Vayu has turned into a very severe cyclonic storm. It would cause gusty winds to blow at a speed of 145 kmph to 170 kmph by Thursday morning,” the India Meteorological Department said.

The state government has launched a massive evacuation exercise to shift about three lakh people from low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions.

A general alert has been sounded across 10 districts and the Meteorological department has told the government that Cyclone Vayu will not weaken after landfall.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted asking people to follow the real-time information by government agencies. “Praying for the safety and wellbeing of all those affected by Cyclone Vayu. The government and local agencies are providing real-time information, which I urge those in affected areas to closely follow,” PM Modi tweeted.

The National Crisis Management Committee met in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting, chaired by Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba, was attended by Gujarat chief secretary and the advisor to the administrator of Diu, among others.

The Indian Navy Wednesday said the Western Naval Command has deployed its ships, aircraft and helicopters for rescue and relief operations and to alert the fishermen at sea about the impending cyclone. Naval Long Range Surveillance Aircraft P8I and IL aircraft are on standby to undertake SAR missions as required.

As many 52 companies of the National Disaster Response Force— about 100 personnel per company— have been flown to Gujarat. Ten companies of the Indian Army have been kept on stand-by.

Medical teams and facilities at Indian Naval Hospital Asvini in Mumbai are being kept ready.