Gujarat is bracing for Cyclone Nilofar, which has developed in the Arabian Sea. The Met department has said that it has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm due to which there will be heavy rainfall in coastal Saurashtra and Kutch on October 30 and 31.
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has said that preparations are in place to deal with the cyclone. “We are ready to face it, fishermen have been called back. We have taken all precautions,” she said.
“Nilofar has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm and lay centred at 1130 hours IST of 27th October, 2014 near latitude 14.90 N and longitude 62.00 E, about 1170 km southwest of Naliya (Gujarat), 1230 km south-southwest of Karachi (Pakistan) and 880 km east-southeast of Salalah (Oman),” the IMD statement said.
“Under the influence of this system, rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would commence along coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch from October 30 morning,” the statement said.
Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would commence along and off Gujarat coast from October 30 morning. Sea condition along and off Gujarat coast will be rough to very rough from the same period, it added. The statement said that fishermen out at sea along and off Gujarat coast should return to the coast.
