Cyclone Vayu affects 762 villages, 60 lakh people in Gujarat

Strong winds lashed the state as heavy rains were recorded in 97 talukas with over a dozen of them receiving more than an inch of rainfall. Gujarat which escaped the landfall of Cyclone Vayu however continued to reel under its effect even though it only skirted the coastal part of Saurashtra.

The release said that across the state 60 lakh people have been affected due to the cyclone and the rains in 762 villages in 75 talukas of 10 districts. Talaja in Bhavnagar recorded 2 inches of rainfall, the highest upto 6 pm. Across the state 2.78 lakh people have been evacuated and 2281 shelter homes were open for those affected.

The real impact of cyclone and the rains are likely to be known in the next 48-50 hours. Fishermen, particualry in the coastal belt are staring at losses as the winds damaged their boats. There were reports of trees being uprooted and electricity poles being flipped from their base due ot the strong winds. 30,000 boats were taken off from the Veraval coast alone, source said.

(Heavy winds and waves had damaged 40- 45 boats at Jaleswar area of Veraval —PRAVIN INDREKAR)

Anwar Patel, president of Veraval Fishermen Community, said that heavy winds and waves had damaged 40- 45 boats at Jaleswar area of Veraval. The GSDMA alone has pressed into service 156 boats as part of its efforts to rescue people .

Additional chief secretary Pankaj Kumar said, "Situation would be reveiwed tomorrow and evacuated persons will continue in the shelter place," he said. He added that schools and colelges will remain close. It should be noted that on Thursday the highest wind speed of 114 kmph was recorded at Dhamrej in Sutrapada taluka. A Coast Guard official said they have been monitoring the cyclone and took pre-emptive actions to ensure that there were no fishermen.

Gujarat Escapes Landfall

However, the state continue to reel under its effect

• 2.78L People have been evacuated
• 2281 Shelter homes for those affected by the cyclone
• 30,000 Boats taken off Veraval Coast

Aftermath

• 12 talukas including Valbhipur, Jafrabad, Bhavnagar, Khambha, Rajula, Talaja,,Palitana, Lathi, Amreli, Mahuva, Gadhda and Umrala recorded more than one inch rains 
• No casualties have been recorded so far, although  a fisherman Arjan Parmar from UNa has been reported missing 
• A portion of the centuries-old Bhuteshwar Mahadev temple near the coastal area of Porbandar has collapsed due to heavy winds and sea waves triggered by Cyclone Vayu