Weather Forecast, Cyclone Vayu today HIGHLIGHTS: Storm skips Gujarat, changes course to Oman

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Weather Forecast, Cyclone Vayu HIGHLIGHTS: Cyclone Vayu moved away from Gujarat coast on Thursday and changed its course towards Oman, in a relief for the state which has put in place elaborate security measures and disaster management mechanisms to tackle the storm. The “very severe” cyclonic storm will not make landfall in Gujarat as it has moved towards the sea, IMD had announced earlier this morning.

On Thursday, in a massive evacuation drive, around three lakh people were shifted to safer places as the cyclonic storm Vayu inched closer to the Gujarat coast. It was expected to make landfall between Dwarka and Veraval this afternoon. Schools and colleges will remain shut on June 12 and 13 across 10 districts as the Army, NDRF personnel, IAF helicopters and around 300 marine commandoes remain on standby to overlook rescue and relief operations.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani held a review meeting to monitor the situation. Flight operations were suspended by the Airports Authority of India in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod and Kandla for 24 hours from Wednesday midnight. The railways has cancelled 86 trains and short terminated 37 others due to the cyclone. Likewise, the Gujarat Maritime Board has also suspended all shipping activities across the Gulf of Khambhat and shifted over 1,600 workers, including those at the Alang shipbreaking yard and the Chara port. The RO-PAX ferry service, between Dahej and Gogha, located across the Gulf of Khambhat was also suspended, sources said on Wednesday.