System has changed course and is expected to skirt the Saurashtra coast.

The deadly cyclonic storm Vayu that brought life to a standstill in coastal Saurashtra and threatened to cause extensive damage in Gujarat upon its landfall has changed course.

The authorities are, however, not taking any chances. They are continuing with all the precautionary measures as light rains accompanied by strong winds began to lash Saurashtra coast since Thursday morning.

For the next two days, heavy to very heavy rains are likely from Veraval to Dwarka. Places such as Dwarka, Junagarh, Naliya and Rajkot will see heavy rains along with high velocity winds. Coastal airports and ports were shut as sea became rough with high waves inundating low lying areas in coastal towns like Porbandar, Veraval and Mangrol.

Waves hit the shore near Bhidiya fishing colony as cyclone Vayu nears the Gujarat coastline in Veraval on June 13, 2019. | Photo Credit: AFP

“Cyclone Vayu’s effect will be seen in the coastal regions, as there will be heavy wind speed and heavy rain as well,” Manorama Mohanty of the Met Department said.

The “very severe cyclonic storm” moved north-northwestwards in the night over the Arabian Sea and lay centred around 110 kilometres from the coast of Gujarat.

To remain in shelters

“We have been informed about diversion in the path of the very severe cyclone... We are continuing to be in alert mode and all the steps that have been initiated will stay in force,” Chief Minister Vijay Rupani told media persons on Thursday evening. He said more than 2.5 lakh people who were shifted from low lying areas will stay in shelters on Thursday and will be sent back home on Friday, depending upon the situation.

Cyclone Vayu | Fishermen evacuating fishing boat during high tide at Veraval sea, Gujarat coastal area on Thursday (June 13, 2019) morning | Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

The Western Railways decided to fully cancel 86 mainline trains, while 37 other mainline trains were short terminated with partial cancellation as a precautionary measure.

Fishermen try to pull back a boat that was carried away by waves on the Arabian Sea coast in Veraval, Gujarat, India, Thursday, June 13, 2019. | Photo Credit: AP

Some large refineries owned by Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy were put on alert. Operations at ports in Kandla and elsewhere were halted. All ports hoisted signal 9, indicating warning for a cyclonic storm.

NDRF teams deployed

More than 30 NDRF and State disaster response force teams were deployed in all 10 coastal districts in Saurashtra. All schools and colleges in the region will remained closed on Friday as well.

A crane lifts a boat from the shore to move it to a safer place ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Vayu, in Veraval on Wednesday. The system has changed course and is now unlikely to make landfall in the State. | Photo Credit: PTI

According to private weather broadcaster Skymet, Vayu would encounter an anti-cyclone over North Arabian Sea after crossing the Gujarat coast. As a result, the system might become stagnant near Karachi coast. There are chances that Vayu will not make a landfall and weaken in the sea itself.