The very severe cyclonic storm Nilofar is fast approaching the Gujarat coast. But by the time it makes landfall in Naliya in Gujarat's Kutch district on Friday, it is likely to weaken into a moderate tropical storm with the maximum speed of 80 kilometre per hour. Nilofar is much less intense than cyclone Hudhud, which hit Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on October 13. Even if the wind speeds aren’t devastating, Gujarat is expected to see heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday.
(Nasa/Handout/AFP)
Pakistan's Sindh and Balochistan provinces are also getting ready for Nilofar. The cyclone is expected to hit southeastern Pakistan, and the city of Karachi, on Saturday night. Sea conditions near the Pakistan coast are expected to very rough, and are likely to remain so until late Saturday night.
But on Tuesday, the speaker of the Sindh assembly, Agha Siraj Khan Durran, still wasn't possessed of the severity of the storm. He asked one legislators if Nilofar was a prominent woman. In fact, it is the Nilofar, a Persian word meaning lotus or water lily.
Who is Nilofar?-28 Oct 2014 by GeoNews
On Wednesday night, the Indian Meteorological Department said that the storm was about 860 km southwest of Naliya in Gujarat and only 380 km southwest of Oman. It warned of damage to thatched roofs and huts near the landfall locations of NIlofar.
Around 30,000 people in the Kutch district of Gujarat have been identified as vulnerable and will be shifted from coastal areas to safer grounds. Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority has also identified more than 50,000 people to be evacuated. Fishermen have been told not to venture out in the sea.
The Indian Navy has put in place precautionary measures and is stepping up its preparedness for disaster relief.
An official at the National Disaster Response Force has said that it has positioned seven rescue and relief teams in Rajkot, Veeraval, Dwarka, Porbandar and Gandhidam in Gujarat. In addition, two rescue teams have been positioned in Bhuj. In total, more than 500 rescuers equipped with boats and other rescue equipment are on stand-by.
(Sam Panthaky/AFP)
(Nasa/Handout/AFP)
Pakistan's Sindh and Balochistan provinces are also getting ready for Nilofar. The cyclone is expected to hit southeastern Pakistan, and the city of Karachi, on Saturday night. Sea conditions near the Pakistan coast are expected to very rough, and are likely to remain so until late Saturday night.
But on Tuesday, the speaker of the Sindh assembly, Agha Siraj Khan Durran, still wasn't possessed of the severity of the storm. He asked one legislators if Nilofar was a prominent woman. In fact, it is the Nilofar, a Persian word meaning lotus or water lily.
Who is Nilofar?-28 Oct 2014 by GeoNews
Wanna bang my head with the screen of laptop when read that... "#Nilofar Who is She..??" Said our speaker #SindhAssembly
— Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) October 29, 2014On Wednesday night, the Indian Meteorological Department said that the storm was about 860 km southwest of Naliya in Gujarat and only 380 km southwest of Oman. It warned of damage to thatched roofs and huts near the landfall locations of NIlofar.
Heavy to very heavy rain and thundershowers at a few places of #Gujarat and West #Rajasthan during next 24 to 72 hrs. http://t.co/XM7MWixI1l
— SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) October 29, 2014Around 30,000 people in the Kutch district of Gujarat have been identified as vulnerable and will be shifted from coastal areas to safer grounds. Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority has also identified more than 50,000 people to be evacuated. Fishermen have been told not to venture out in the sea.
The Indian Navy has put in place precautionary measures and is stepping up its preparedness for disaster relief.
An official at the National Disaster Response Force has said that it has positioned seven rescue and relief teams in Rajkot, Veeraval, Dwarka, Porbandar and Gandhidam in Gujarat. In addition, two rescue teams have been positioned in Bhuj. In total, more than 500 rescuers equipped with boats and other rescue equipment are on stand-by.
(Sam Panthaky/AFP)
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