A revised forecast of the Gujarat Meteorological Department made at 4.30 pm on Friday said the cyclone, which was expected to strike the Saurashtra coast by Saturday morning, is now likely to cross the Gujarat coast between Naliya and Veraval by Saturday night.
Director in-charge of the meteorological centre, R K Kankane, said: "The cyclone comprising circular anti-clockwise winds at a speed of 80 to 100 kmph practically remained static for about six hours on Friday."
He said widespread heavy rains and thunder showers are likely from Saturday morning in Saurashtra and Kutch regions, Daman & Diu and some parts of south Gujarat. "On Saturday, the cyclone could also trigger gale wind with speed reaching 80 to 100 kmph along and off coastal areas of Kutch, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Surat, Bharuch, Navsari, Valsad, Diu & Daman as well as in landlocked districts of Ahmedabad and Anand as well.However, the winds may be touch a speed of 160 to 180 km at the point of landfall (while crossing the coast) with association of storm surge and heavy rainfall in the vicinity of the landfall," Kankane added.
More From This Section
Meanwhile, the seas had started getting choppy, fishermen have been advised not to go out in the sea for the next 48 hours and ports all along the Gujarat coast had started hoisting "great danger" signals. While signal number VIII was hoisted between Jakhau and Okha port, signal number IX was put up between Jafrabad to Umbergaon ports, whereas the "greatest danger" signal number X was hoisted from Dwarka to Veraval.
The big companies in the danger of being hit by the cyclone now include Indian Rayon, Gujarat Heavy Chemicals, Gujarat Ambuja Cement, Larsen & Toubro, as well as some small and big ports, salt refineries, etc on the Gujarat coast.
Kandla Port suspends operations
Kandla Port Trust chairman A K Joti said the port operations was fully suspended from 8 am on Friday and the authorities were today in the process of evacuating 7,500 people living in low-lying areas. Of them, 1,250 were salt workers, 2,750 labourers and 3,500 hutment dwellers.
Totally 17 vehicles consisting of trucks, dumpers and trailers were deployed to shift them to safer places. Arrangements were also made to reach some of them to their villages, he added.
"Moreover our action plan in terms of setting up the control room and deploying the Central Industrial Security Force to provide necessary security and safety has been implemented in totality," he revealed.
Other than the staff manning the electrical installations and control room and firefighters, no one is allowed into the port area, Joti said.