Cyclone Nisarga spares Gujarat

Cyclone Nisarga did not cause any major damage on the southern coast of Gujarat on Wednesday afternoon and evening following landfall near Alibaug in Maharashtra, officials said.

The Gujarat government had evacuated over 63,700 people, including 292 pregnant women, from coastal areas of eight districts and 18 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and six teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed for rescue operations.

Luckily, the cyclonic storm passed without any major incident and casualties, said state relief commissioner Harshad Patel.

“No untoward incident or human injury has been reported so far due to the cyclone. While the wind speed was normal in south Gujarat region, both Valsad and Navsari received just 2 mm and 7 mm rainfall since morning. The situation is under control,” he said.

Talking to journalists, Patel said, “Considering Covid-19 condition, social distancing and other health protocols are being observed at all the 332 shelter homes.

Meanwhile, Patel said 17 lakh citizens have been alerted through mobile services operators about the cyclone and precautionary measures to be taken in South Gujarat districts. Additionally, high mast towers and hoardings have been removed from public roads. Oxygen and electricity facilities have been assured at Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres in these districts.

Bracing for the cyclone, the Gujarat government had shifted to safer places 33,680 persons in Valsad district alone, followed by Navsari (14,040), Surat (8,727), Hangar (3,066), Amreli (2,086), Bharuch (1,202), Anand (761) and Gir-Somnath (228).

Around 4,000 persons living close to the seashore were shifted to safer places in adjoining Union Territory of Daman, said local officials, adding that police were also deployed at all the beaches.

Earlier, weather officials had feared that the cyclone will have maximum impact on coastal districts of Valsad and Navsari with a wind speed of 100 to 110 kmph. As a precautionary measure, fishermen were already called back from the sea.

Salt-pan workers and shrimp farm workers were also shifted to safer locations, said Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Pankaj Kumar. In addition, 250 ambulances and 170 emergency medical teams were also kept on stand-by in the south Gujarat region to address any eventuality, officials said.

Cyclone Nisarga’s landfall process in Maharashtra started near Alibaug at around 1pm and ended by 4 pm, he said.

Moderate rains in city likely today

According to IMD prediction, Ahmedabad and surrounding areas will receive light to moderate rain on Thursday with temperature expected to go down. Wednesday remained cloudy with highest temperature at 39 degree Celsius and minimum at 27 degree Celsius. Gusts up to speed of 40km/hour is expected in Ahmedabad.