400 Guj fishermen stranded in Arabian sea
Ahmedabad: As many as 400 fishermen from Gujarat are stranded in the Arabian Sea, 40 nautical miles of Daman coast in South Gujarat, due to the cyclonic storm advancing towards the state.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, called a review meeting of the state Disaster Management Authority, the revenue department and district administration in view of the impending cyclone and directed the district administration to keep an eye on the changing weather and take appropriate measures.
Daman and Diu Fisheries department official Abhilasha Agarwal said, “Around 400 fishermen who had ventured into the sea in about 60 boats are stranded. These fishermen had left the coast two days ago before the cyclone warning was issued, so they were not aware weather situation.”
According to weather office, cyclonic storm ‘Phyan’ is expected to hit South Gujarat and North Maharashtra by late Wednesday evening following a deep depression formed in the South East and adjoining Central Arabian Sea.
Rains and strong winds blowing at 30-35 kmph were experienced in the coastal districts of Surat, Valsad and Bhavnagar on Wednesday morning, with thick clouds in many parts of the state.
“We sent a message to the fishermen with the help of Indian Coast Guard. They will be trying to reach them using helicopters,” Agarwal said. Meanwhile, in Bhavnagar a level three warning has been issued by the district administration asking the fishermen to stay away from the sea for the next 48 hours.
The district administration has also been asked to keep watch on Mahuva taluka which falls on the cyclone path. Work has been stopped at the Alang ship-breaking yard as a precautionary measure.
The weather department has predicted rainfall at most places with scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall which is likely to commence on Wednesday evening in Valsad, Surat Bharuch, Narmada, Navsari, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
They said that wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph and gusting to 75 kmph is likely to commence off the South Gujarat coast from Wednesday afternoon. All ports along South Gujarat Coast have been asked to minimise their activities by the weather department.