Over 17,000 people evacuated as Nilofar nears Gujarat

More than 17,000 people living near the coastal areas in Gujarat have been evacuated by authorities in view of the approaching tropical cyclone Nilofar which, however, has gradually weakened and is expected to hit the state merely as a "depression".

"So far, we have shifted 17,372 people from Kutch and Jamnagar district to safer places. Since the cyclone is expected to cross Kutch on Friday, majority of the evacuees are from that district.

"The remaining 235 people are from the coastal parts of Jamnagar," Gujarat State Relief Commissioner DN Pandey said.

"Although the system has weakened, we do not wish to take any chances. We shifted 8,646 villagers living in the coastal regions of Kutch, such as Naliya, Mundra, Gandhidham, Anjar and Jakhau, to safer places. We are also taking steps to alert people living in low-lying areas," said Kutch Collector Mahendra Patel.

Taking precautionary measures ahead of Cyclone Nilofar, Indian Coast Guard on Thursday deployed its four ships at Porbandar coast to search and rescue fishing boats sailing along the Gujarat coast and to place them at the nearest safe harbours.

"Four Indian Coast Guard ships Vijit, Meerabehn, Rajratan and Amritkaur fully equipped with search and rescue equipments have been pressed into service from Porbandar for search and rescue operations as well as shepherding fishing boats operating along the Gujarat coast to the nearest safer harbour," a statement issued from Indian Coast Guard's Gandhinagar headquarters said.

However, Cyclone Nilofar, which was earlier described as a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Arabian Sea, is now expected to make its landfall near Naliya in Kutch on Friday as a "depression", a MeT Department release said.

The Indian Coast Guard is also quipped with aircraft to tackle any eventuality.

"Two daily air sorties are flown in search and rescue configuration, while two Dornier aircraft and two ALH helicopters are also on standby at Porbandar," the Coast Guard statement said.

The Coast Guard has kept a logistics and medical contingencies plan ready for an immediate response.

Coast Guard stations have also been equipped with a power back up and sufficient fuel for alternate power supply for unhindered response during the cyclonic phase, it said.

Regular advisory for mechanised sailing vessels and the fishermen community for safe berthing and discontinuation of sea operations are being passed through seven radar stations along the Gujarat coast, Coast Guard aircraft and ships on patrol, it said.