Cyclone Vayu: NDRF team alerts citizens near Jafrabad Port, Western Railway cancels trains

Cyclone Vayu, a powerful storm formed over the Arabian Sea near Lakshadweep islands, is currently moving towards the north and may hit the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva at around Veraval and Diu region with a speed of up to 140-150 kmph to 165 kmph on Thursday morning. On Wednesday, it is expected to be centered over Eastcentral Arabian Sea, about 450 km west-northwest of Goa, 290 km south-southwest of Mumbai and 380 km nearly south of Gujarat's Veraval. In the wake of this severe cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a fresh warning of heavy rains, accompanied with gusty winds at a speed of over 110 kilometre per hour on Thursday and Friday, in the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch.

Here are the LIVE Updates on Cyclone Vayu:

#10:40 pm: 30 more mainline trains have been cancelled, as a precautionary measure in the cyclone prone areas: Western Railway.

#08:40 pm: Flight operations at several airports in Gujarat to be suspended from tonight.

#08:00 pm: In addition to the earlier 15 trains, 25 more mainline trains have been cancelled, while in addition to the earlier 16 trains, 12 other mainline trains will be short terminated with partial cancellation as a precautionary measure in the Vayu Cyclone prone areas: Western Railway

#07:33 pm: As Cyclone Vayu is expected to cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Diu, I pray for the safety of the people. MHA is in continuous touch with State Governments/UT and Central Agencies. NDRF has pre-positioned 52 teams: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah: As #CycloneVayu is expected to cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Diu, I pray for the safety of the people. MHA is in continuous touch with State Governments/UT and Central Agencies. NDRF has pre-positioned 52 teams. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/6XYcvhBRnh

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019

#06:55 pm: NDRF team alerts citizens near Jafrabad Port as Cyclone Vayu is expected to make landfall tomorrow.

#06:15 pm: Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Gujarat Revenue Department: 36 NDRF team deployed, 11 teams more ready. 9 SDRF teams, 14 companies of SRP and 300 marine commandos are also deployed. 9 helicopters placed at strategic points, 10,000 tourists have also been shifted.

#06:03 pm: Addnl Chief Secretary, Gujarat Revenue Department on Cyclone Vayu: More than 500 villages in coastal region have been evacuated, 2.15 lakh people have been shifted to shelters. From midnight police will be patrolling the vulnerable areas.

#05:02 pm: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Vayu about 280 km is nearly south of Veraval (Gujarat) & 360 km nearly south of Porbandar (Gujarat). It'll cross Gujarat coast between Dwarka and Veraval as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed 155-165 kmph around afternoon of 13th June: IMD

#05:00 pm: Western Railway cancels trains to coastal Gujarat areas.

#4:45 pm: Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA): A total of 1,64,090 people have been evacuated from 10 affected areas till 4 PM today. 

Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA): A total of 1,64,090 people have been evacuated from 10 affected areas till 4 PM today. #CycloneVayu pic.twitter.com/ahVEUzgkIh

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019

#4:30 pm: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) evacuates citizens from beaches in Dwarka ahead of the expected landfall of Cyclone Vayu, tomorrow.

Gujarat: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) evacuates citizens from beaches in Dwarka ahead of the expected landfall of #CycloneVayu, tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/IstE2NMr3P

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019

#04:14 pm: Central government is closely monitoring the situation due to Cyclone Vayu: PM Modi 

PM Narendra Modi: Central government is closely monitoring the situation due to #CycloneVayu in Gujarat and other parts of India. I have been constantly in touch with state governments. NDRF and other agencies are working round the clock to provide all possible assistance. pic.twitter.com/i0ng39fsE8

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019

#03:55 pm: Strong winds and dust hit the Somnath temple in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Vayu, expected tomorrow.

#03:14 pm: The Central Government is closely monitoring the situation due to Cyclone Vayu in Gujarat and other parts of India.I have been constantly in touch with State Governments. NDRF and other agencies are working round the clock to provide all possible assistance, Modi said.

The Central Government is closely monitoring the situation due to Cyclone Vayu in Gujarat and other parts of India.

I have been constantly in touch with State Governments.

NDRF and other agencies are working round the clock to provide all possible assistance.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2019

#03:10 pm: "Praying for the safety and wellbeing of all those affected by Cyclone Vayu. The Government and local agencies are providing real-team information, which I urge those in affected areas to closely follow," tweets Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Praying for the safety and wellbeing of all those affected by Cyclone Vayu.

The Government and local agencies are providing real-team information, which I urge those in affected areas to closely follow.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2019

#02:59 pm: In view of the cyclonic formation Vayu in the Arabian Sea coupled with high tide on June 12 and 13, all beaches in the Kokan region — Palgahar, Thane, Mumbai(city/suburban), Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg may be shut off to the public immediately for next two days.

#02:36 pm: Gujarat: National Disaster Response Force team deployed in Morbi.

#02:30 pm: Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani held a meeting with senior officials of the state, today.

Ahmedabad: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani held a meeting with senior officials of the state, today. #CycloneVayu is very likely to cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva as a very severe cyclonic storm tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/4UwqpYeato

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019

#02:08 pm: In the view of Cyclone Vayu, flight operations from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to Porbandar, Diu, Kandla, Mundra and Bhavnagar are cancelled for tomorrow.

#02:04 pm: Western Railway will run evacuation special trains today i.e. June 12, 2019 as under in Rajkot Division in view of the expected Cyclone Vayu. First evacuation special will run ex Okha Station at 17.45  hrs today for Rajkot while the second vacuation spl will run ex Okha Station  at  20.05 today for Ahmedabad.

#01:38 pm: As cyclone 'Vayu' inches closer, the National Disaster Management (NDMA India) has released a 'Do's and Don'ts list for the common people during the calamity. Check it here:

#01:32 pm: Gujarat government has launched a massive evacuation exercise to shift about three lakh people from low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions in the state. They will be provided shelter in government buildings or those owned by various trusts and NGOs.

#01:05 pm: Western Railway: All passenger and Mail/Express trains to Veraval, Okha, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Bhuj and Gandhidham stations are being short terminated/cancelled after 6:00 pm today to Jun 14 morning. One special train from each station to evacuate all persons from respective areas.

#12:52 pm: Cyclone Vayu: NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team with the help of police and civil administration has evacuated 65 people from Diu and shifted them to shelters.

#CycloneVayu : NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team with the help of police and civil administration has evacuated 65 people from #Diu and shifted them to shelters. pic.twitter.com/davTfvmQkn

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019

#12:00 pm: Kutch: Kandla port temporarily closed as Cyclone Vayu is expected to make a landfall in Gujarat tomorrow morning. Locals who live in areas near the port and fishermen are being evacuated to safer places by NDRF (National Disaster Response Force).

Kutch: Kandla port temporarily closed as #CycloneVayu is expected to make a landfall in #Gujarat tomorrow morning. Locals who live in areas near the port & fishermen are being evacuated to safer places by NDRF (National Disaster Response Force). pic.twitter.com/kCZphLqIjM

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019

#11:52 am: Valsad: 20 villages in the district have been put on alert ahead of landfall of Cyclone Vayu in Gujarat tomorrow morning. 39 schools in villages near the coasts in Valsad will remain closed. Fire and rescue teams are also on alert.

#11:30 am: Indian Coast Guard has formed Disaster relief teams and kept on immediate notice at Daman, Dahanu Mumbai, MurudJanjira, Ratnagiri, Goa Karwar, Mangalore, Beypore, Vijhinjam and Kochi for immediate response to the impending Cyclone Vayu.

#11:27 am: Bishwombhar Singh, director in-charge, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, Mumbai on Cyclone Vayu: It doesn't have much effect on Mumbai. The city will probably receive light rain and there might be increase in wind speed.

#11:25 am: Kutch: Cyclone Vayu is expected to make a landfall in Gujarat tomorrow morning. Tourists visiting Dwarka, Somnath, Sasan, Kutch, have been advised to leave for safer places after the afternoon of 12 June.

#11:22 am: DDG, IMD Mumbai: Potential threat from flying objects. Sea conditions are very likely to become rough to high along and off Maharashtra coast on 12 and 13 June. Sea beaches would require special attention. Fisherman warnings issued. Gusty winds can cause tree falling incidences too.

#11:17 am: Deputy Director General (DDG), India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mumbai, KS Hosalikar: Very severe cyclonic storm Vayu is now at 280 km south-southwest of Mumbai. Winds over North Maharashtra coast are very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph today. A windy day.

#11:04 am: Conditions are favourable for further intensification in the next 12 hours during which Vayu is expected to attain a maximum wind speed of 180 kmph  gusting upto 220 kmph on Wednesday night. It will start weakening after 24 hours.

#11:00 am: The depression will be over Gulf of Kuchh and Bhuj on June 14 at about 10:30 pm and is predicted to move the northwest direction towards Karachi and weaken owing to land interaction from June 15 onwards.

IMD: It is very likely to move nearly northwards & cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Mahuva around Veraval & Diu region as a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speed 140-150 kmph to 165 kmph around morning of 13 June. https://t.co/3Xqr6khUAT

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019

#10:57 am: The districts which will be severely affected by the storm are - Junagarh, Porbander, Dwarka, Jamnagar and Rajkot among others, says the Indian Navy.

#10:52 am: Vayu is presently centered at latitude 17.6°N and 70.7°E, around 506 km south­-southeast of Karachi and will cross coast near Verava on Thursday, i.e. June 13 between 8:30 am and 11:00 am.

#10:40 am: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is in continuous touch with the state governments and Union territories like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Daman and Diu, which may be affected due to the cyclone.

#10:25 am: Maharashtra: A tree uprooted in Mumbai early morning today due to strong winds in the coastal areas ahead of landfall of Cyclone Vayu. A bike came under the uprooted tree.

Maharashtra: A tree uprooted in Mumbai early morning today due to strong winds in the coastal areas ahead of landfall of #CycloneVayu. A bike came under the uprooted tree pic.twitter.com/mvlDYZmSYt

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019

#10:22 am: Arrangements are also in place to warn people of the impending cyclone through announcements in media and bulk SMS.

#10:16 am: Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha chairs a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), to review preparedness relating to Cyclone Vayu. Sinha said all possible measures are to be taken to avoid any human casualty and adequate preparations should be made to restore any damage that may be caused to infrastructure.

#10:03 am: The Indian Coast Guard, the Navy, Army and Air Force units have been put on service and surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out aerial surveillance. The Air Force deployed a C-17 transporter aircraft to carry out Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations.

#CycloneVayu : Today a C-17 aircraft of #IAF got airborne from New Delhi to Vijayawada. The aircraft is planned to airlift about 160 personnel of NDRF from Vijayawada to Jamnagar to carry out the #HADR missions for the people affected by the cyclone in Gujarat. #SavingLives pic.twitter.com/V9Z2KuKJ6r

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 11, 2019

#09:57 am: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has pre-positioned 39 NDRF teams, comprising about 45 rescuers each, in Gujarat and Diu. They are equipped with boats, tree-cutters and telecom equipment. As many as 34 teams of Army are also on standby.

#09:40 am: Authorities are directed to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health, drinking water and their immediate restoration in the event of any damage.

#09:33 am: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday took stock of the preparations, directing officials to ensure all possible steps for the safety of people.

#09:30 am: The Gujarat government is on high alert to avoid any untoward incident due to 'Cyclone Vayu'.