As per updates from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm moved nearly northwards with a speed of 12 kilometres per hour. It lay centred at 5:30 pm on Saturday over east central Arabian Sea near latitude 13.8°N and longitude 72.7°E, about 220 km south-southwest of Panjim-Goa, 590 km south-southwest of Mumbai, 820 km south-southeast of Veraval (Gujarat) and 940 km south-southeast of Karachi (Pakistan).
The cyclone is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat, including extremely heavy falls in Junagadh and Gir Somnath and heavy to very heavy rain at a few places in the districts of Saurashtra, Kutch, and Diu, namely Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagadh, Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Amreli, Rajkot, Jamnagar, the IMD said.
The Western Railway said it has canceled 56 trains either originating or terminating in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region as a precaution.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the cylone preparedness of states, central ministries and other agencies directing them to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated. The PM also called for ensuring maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health and drinking and their immediate restoration, a statement said.
