Cyclone Ockhi weakens, may not hit Gujarat coast: IMD
AHMEDABAD : Cyclone Ockhi is gradually weakening into a depression and may not hit the Gujarat coast near Surat as predicted earlier, the Meteorological Centre said here on Tuesday night.
Cyclonic storm Ockhi has already turned into a “deep depression” and may hit south Gujarat only as a “depression”, according to an official statement.The deep depression is located around 240 kms south- southwest of Surat.
“It is very likely to continue to move north- northeastwards, weaken further and cross south Gujarat and adjoining north Maharashtra coasts near Surat as a depression by tonight (December 5, 2017),” the bulletin read.
After torrential rains in Mumbai, Cyclone Ockhi moved closer to Gujarat on Tuesday and the landfall is near Surat today. Cyclonic storm Ockhi has already turned into a “deep depression” and may hit south Gujarat only as a “depression” late Wednesday night, according to an official statement.
The deep depression is located around 240 kms south- southwest of Surat. The cyclonic storm had caused havoc in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep islands. Due to the impact of the cyclone, Mumbai and its suburbs experienced rains since Tuesday morning, but it subsided by the afternoon even as hailstorm lashed some sections of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
However, Regional IMD officials said the cyclone had already weakened into a deep depression.“The cyclone has already weakened into a deep depression and it is highly likely that it will turn into a depression. There are possibilities that it does not hit the coast at all and, as there is a probability of dissipation over the sea before the landfall,” Jayanta Sarkar, director of the MeT office here, said.
According to IMD the deep depression would bring light to moderate rain in several parts of State for the next three days as the sea condition would remain rough for the next 18 hours. The MeT Centre cautioned fishermen from venturing into the sea for the next 18 hours.
Although the cyclone has weakened, the State administration has made all the preparation to meet any eventuality. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupnai travelled to Surat and took a review meeting of preparations to deal with the situation.
Around 1,600 people have been shifted to safer places in Surat, officials said adding that the security forces– NDRF, BSF, Army, Navy, Coast Guard have been alerted to take all necessary steps.
“Conducted review meeting with officials in view of Ockhi cyclone at Surat. Instructed them to leave no stone unturned to counter any adverse situation…No need to panic,” Mr. Rupani tweeted.(With Agency Inputs ).
