Cyclone may hit Kutch coast tonight

By Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR, MAY 25. The severe cyclonic storm in the Arabian sea kept the Gujarat Government authorities guessing today about its intensity and course.

According to indications, Kutch district, which was battered by the devastating earthquake on January 26, may again become the target of nature's fury. The Director of the Indian Meteorological Department, Ahmedabad, Mr. R. K. Kankane, said the cyclone's direction has slightly shifted and it is likely to hit the Kutch-Saurashtra coast between Veraval and Nalia on Saturday night.

The storm remained ``practically stationary'' during the last 24 hours about 500 km south south-west off the Veraval coast. Spread over some 300 km to 400 km with a circulating speed of 80 km to 100 km, the cyclone has virtually spared the south Gujarat regions and shifted towards Kutch-Saurashtra coast.

The State Government has shifted its attention from south to Kutch and the Saurashtra regions. But, the Revenue Minister, Mr. Vajubhai Vala, said a general alert would remain in force in the region. However, Army and paramilitary forces, including the calamity-trained State Reserve Police personnel, were withdrawn from the south Gujarat regions and re-deployed in the Kutch- Saurashtra region.

In Kutch district, where the quake-hit live in the open or in tents, the State Government is keeping ready a large number of State transport buses to shift the people. Specially- trained rescue and relief teams had been deployed at Bhavnagar, Rajula, Mahuva, Kodinar, Porbandar, Dwarka, Veraval, Navlakhi and some other centres for emergency operations.

8,000 evacuated

The Revenue Secretary, Mr. K. C. Kapoor, said only about 8,000 people, including salt pan workers, had been evacuated from the coastal areas. Reports from various districts, however, indicate that nearly a lakh people had either been evacuated or were asked to be prepared for evacuation.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Keshubhai Patel, has ordered the administration to be fully prepared till Monday. The red alert would remain till the weather experts give the all- clear signal which may take another 72 hours.

There is still no change in the weather condition in any part of the State, except that the sea in the Saurashtra coast has become slightly choppy.

All the activities in the ports, including the central sector Kandla port, have been suspended and approaching ships have been advised to stay out of the range of the cyclonic storm.

Danger signals have been hoisted in all the major and minor ports and the Gujarat Maritime Board had been asked to monitor the situation with the Indian Meteorological Department and the State control room.

Mr. Vala said that barring three boats with 15 fishermen, about 250 boats carrying around 1,600 fishermen had returned. Efforts were being made to contact the three boats.

All Government offices in the north Gujarat, Kutch and the Saurashtra regions besides the State and the district control rooms had been asked to remain open tomorrow and on Sunday, Mr. Vala said.

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