Cyclone VAYU over East-Central Arabian sea is intensifying and advancing closer towards the coast. At present, the cyclone is 340 kilometres away from Veraval and is expected to hit the coast in the next 24 hours.

As per Met Department, landfall is predicted between Porbandar and Mahuva and Veraval and Diu island which is likely to affect Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh, Gir Somnath and Porbandar districts adversely.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has appealed to the people often cyclone prone districts to evacuate from the villages along the coastline voluntarily and move to safer places immediately. Local authorities have started evacuating the people from the vulnerable areas in Saurashtra and Kutch from this morning.

As a precautionary measure, airports in Porbander, Rajkot,  Keshod and Diu have been closed for civilian flight operations and commercial flights, mainly from Mumbai, are being diverted to other airports in  Gujarat. IAF helicopters have been deployed with rescue equipment.

Navy and Coast Guard ships in Arabian sea close to Saurashtra coastline and Bay of Kutch are put on high . Massive stock of Food packets and potable water pouches is being generated by the state administration with the help from social service organizations  and arrangements are on for last mile delivery to people.

Health teams with medicines are rushing to cyclone prone districts. More than 1500 State Transport buses are earmarked for movement of relief teams and material to affected areas.