'Phet' intensifies, halts near Kutch

Tropical cyclone 'Phet' in the Arabian sea intensified further, however, the storm remained stationary during the day about 1,050 km southwest of Naliya in Kutch even as some parts of Gujarat received rainfall, Indian Meteorological Department officials said.

Medium to light rainfall was recorded in many parts of the coastal districts of the state including Jamnagar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Surat and others like Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Vadodara, they said.

"The current environmental condition and numerical weather prediction models suggest that the system would intensify further and move slowly in a north-northwesterly/ northerly direction in the next 24 hours, close to Oman coast and then re-curve northeastwards towards Pakistan and adjoining Gujarat coast, skirting Oman coast," an IMD official said.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea and 'Distant Ports Warning 2' has been hoisted at all ports in the state, the official said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting to access administration's preparedness in case the cyclonic storm hits the state, officials said.

"Eight teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the coastal districts of the state along with five companies of the State Reserve Police," Relief

Commissioner Poonamchandra Parmar said.

"All communication line are on and districts have been provided with satellite phones so that there is no loss of communication in case of emergency," he said.

Parmar said sarpanch (village heads) have been intimated about the steps to be taken in case of cyclone.      

Of the eight teams deployed by the NDRF, two each are stationed in Rajkot, Kutch and Jamnagar and one each in Junagadh and Porbander," NDRF deputy commandant S K Pradhan said.

He said the NDRF team was carrying inflatable rubber boats, gas cutters, ropes, life jackets and other modern equipment required during rescue operations.

The weather department has forecast that under the influence of 'Phet', fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over coastal areas of Gujarat from June 4 and would increase thereafter.