Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday discussed with top officials ways of combating the cyclone that’s threatening to hit Saurashtra and Kutch.
“We are taking steps needed to reduce the (damage). Senior IAS officers have been deployed in the coastal districts and are monitoring the situation. Necessary equipment has been dispatched,” he said.
According to the local office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is still about 1,000 km away from the Kutch coast.
“The cyclone now appears stationary (and moving outwards) but it can recurve and move towards Kutch. This can happen after Friday,” said Kamaljeet Ray, director, IMD Ahmedabad.
Till now, the state has experienced light to medium showers with wind.
Fishermen and saltpan workers have been asked to return. All ports have been alerted. Six teams of the National Disaster Relief Force have reached to Kutch, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagadh and Rajkot.
“We have identified the low-lying areas, from where people would be evacuated when the need arises. Medical teams, civil supplies, and pumps to draw out water have been provided to the districts concerned,” said P.K. Parmar, commissioner, relief.