Union HM Amit Shah chaired high-level meet reviewing preparations to deal with ‘Vayu’

Union home minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of states and concerned central ministries to deal with the impending situation. With Cyclone ‘Vayu’ predicted to hit the western coast, particularly Gujarat.
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed the Centre that Cyclone ‘Vayu’ is expected to touch Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Veraval & Diu region as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speed 110-120 kmph in the early morning of June 13. It is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat and storm surge of height of about 1.0- 1.5 m above the astronomical tides and may inundate the low-lying coastal areas of Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagarh, Diu, Gir Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts at the time of landfall. IMD has been issuing regular bulletins since April 9 to all the concerned states. Amit Shah directed the senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated and to ensure the maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health, drinking water etc. He said that these services must be restored immediately in the event of damages caused to them. He also directed for 24×7 functioning of control rooms.
The meeting was attended by home secretary; secretary, ministry of earth sciences; and senior officers of IMD and MHA.
The Cabinet secretary has also convened the meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee in the evening on June 11 to review the preparedness of the state and Central agencies. This meeting will be attended by the chief secretaries of Gujarat and advisor and administrator of Diu.
The home ministry, an official said, is in continuous touch with the state governments, UT administration and the Central agencies concerned.
NDRF has pre-positioned 26 teams which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipments etc. and moving another 10 teams as requested by Gujarat government.
Indian Coast Guard, the Navy, Army and Air Force units have also been put on standby and aircraft and helicopters are carrying out aerial surveillance.