Gandhinagar: CM Vijay Rupani today said that the ‘danger’ of cyclonic storm VAYU was gone as it has fortunately changed its direction and according to met forecast it was now changed course towards Oman but as a precautionary measure the system kept in alert in 10 coastal districts will remain so till next 24 hours.

Addressing the newsmen here Rupani said that the decision has been taken in the high powered committee meeting.

He said that all the around 3 lakh people shifted from the low lying areas would remain in shelters tonight and a call about them would be taken at 8 am tomorrow after the review of situation. He said that even though the danger of the storm was gone yet the likelihood of heavy rain owing to evaporation and increased humidity in the 10 coastal districts could not be ruled out so precautionary measures and alertness till next 24 hours should be there. It has also been decided to keep the schools in these districts closed even tomorrow.

‘We need to remain alert tonight,’ he said.

To a query he said that not even a single loss of life has been reported due to the impact of the storm. He also said that no major loss of property has also been reported but the government would look in to it pro-actively.

When asked about the apprehensions expressed by the met officials about further delay in arrival of monsoon in Gujarat in the wake of the storm, Rupani said that one can’t do anything in the matter of nature. ‘It is nature. But I have repeatedly said that we have enough water for drinking purposes in Gujarat till July 31. We can only have problem if the monsoon was delayed even beyond that time,’ he said.

CM Rupani said that PM Narendra Modi had made a phone call from abroad today and inquired about the situation. Even though he was told that the direction of the storm was changed, he assured of all the assistance from center if the need arose.

DeshGujarat