Cyclone Nilofar: About 30,000 to be evacuated on Wednesday

An estimated 30,000 people along coastal areas will be moved to safer places in Kutch district of Gujarat from Wednesday as the very severe cyclonic storm Nilofar hurtles towards the state and slams it by November 1 afternoon.

Taking precautionary measures in view of the approaching storm, the district collector of Kutch has asked the administration to initiate evacuation process in eight tehsils.

Nilofar -- as per the modified prediction of Indian Meteorological Department -- is likely to have a landfall near Naliya village of Kutch district by November 1 afternoon against the earlier prediction of October 31.

“We have decided to evacuate around 30,000 people living in 128 villages of eight tehsils. All these villages are near the coast. Based on the final prediction of the Met department, we will start evacuation tomorrow,” Kutch collector Mahendra Patel.

The evacuation will be carried out in tehsils of Abdasa (Naliya), Anjar, Bhachau, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Mandvi, Mundra and Nakhatrana.

“We are also working towards ensuring electricity supply during the cyclone. Villagers in other parts of the district have been asked to store water. We have called back school teachers and principals from Diwali vacation and asked them to keep school premises open to accommodate evacuees,” said Patel.

Nilofar is currently positioned in West-Central Arabian Sea, about 1,110 km south-west of Naliya, the MeT department said.

"However, as the system would come closer to Gujarat coast, it would weaken and cross the coast as severe cyclonic storm," it added. The Met department has also asked the port authorities to hoist distant warning signal no 2 at all the ports.

"Nine teams of National Disaster Relief Force will be deployed for rescue operations and they will be conducting operations in consultation with the State Reserve Police Force," state Relief Commissioner D N Pandey said.

The Indian Coast Guard is also preparing itself to deal with any eventuality arising out of the storm.

The ICG has activated cyclone monitoring cells and deployed 30 ICG ships, besides aircraft and helicopters, to tackle the situation, a senior official said today.

"The Coast Guard is ready to tackle any eventuality due to this very severe cyclonic storm. We have deployed four Dornier aircraft, two ALH helicopters and around 30 ICG ships to deal with the situation," said Commander, ICG, North West Region, Inspector General Kuldip Singh Sheoran.

"The Cyclone Monitoring Cells were activated at ICG operation centres at Gandhinagar, Porbanadar, Jakahu, Mundra, Vadinar, Okha and Pipavav which are manning round-the-clock and monitoring the cyclonic movement," he said. Sheoran said there are 8 radars that can stream live visuals up to 25 nautical miles. "This will help in tracing the situation of fishermen from Gandhinagar headquarters," he added.

Asked whether Coast Gurad will need extra deployment of force, Sheoran said, "Looking at the intensity of 'Nilofar', we can say that we will be capable of taking proper measures."

Sheoran said that 70 per cent of fishing boats have come inside the coast, while other 30 per cent will be inside before 'Nilofar' hits the coast.

"The ICG will trace fishermen through Distress Alert Transponders, which have been given to most of the fishermen in the state," he said.

Meanwhile, an ICG release said that all ports have been asked to broadcast the cyclone warning at regular intervals to all ships within the port limits and at anchorage and keep the disaster contingency plan ready.

"The oil handling agencies in Gujarat have also been asked to monitor the situation closely and take necessary action as per local oil spill contingency plan," it added.

The Port Trust of Mundra, Kandla, Reliance and IOC have also been asked to take necessary action as per this plan, the statement said.