Cyclone Nilofar

After Hudhud that hit India’s eastern coast on October 12, it’s now turn of another cyclonic storm ‘Nilofar’ to keep the Met department on toes for the next four days. Its impact is likely to be felt mid-week in Kutch area of north Gujarat and adjoining Pakistan coast.

The new cyclonic storm, formed in Arabian Sea, will, however, not be as intense as Hudhud. Nilofar is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rains in coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch area of north Gujarat. CM Anandiben Patel has asked all district collectors, municipal commissioners and district development officers to stay on alert and activate all control rooms.

They have also been asked to cancel leaves of employees and ask those who are on leave to report to duty. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that the `Nilofar' will intensify further into a `severe' cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and advised fishermen to return to the coast as the conditions off Gujarat coast will be “rough to very rough”.