'Cyclone Nisarga': Shah holds meet with Guj, Maha CMs

New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday held a meeting, via video conference, with Gujrat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, his Maharashtra counterpart Uddhav Thackeray and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Administrator Praful Patel over cyclone Nisarga. He assured all Central help in view of the impending cyclone and asked the states to chalk out in details the requirements and resources needed to deal with the situation.

Earlier, the Home Minister held a meeting to take stock of the situation and preparedness to deal with Cyclone 'Nisarga' brewing in the Arabian Sea.

Shah held the review meeting with senior officials of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai was also present in the meeting.

Days after the country's eastern coast was battered by Amphan, a fresh cyclone has begun brewing over the Arabian Sea on the western coast and is expected to hit some parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The IMD on Monday sounded a 'Yellow' warning for north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coast. Cyclonic storm 'Nisarga' will affect the coastal districts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, more than Gujarat and other neighbouring states, the MD cautioned on Monday.

It said that the depression in the Arabian Sea is slated to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm 'Nisarga' and cross north Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts between Harihareshwar in Raigad district and Daman on June 3.

The IMD has informed that the well marked low pressure area over southeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea & Lakshadweep area concentrated into a depression and it is very likely to intensify into a deep depression during next 12 hours and intensify further into a cyclonic Storm over East central Arabian Sea during the subsequent 24 hours.

The NDRF has already deployed 13 teams in Gujarat including 2 kept as reserve and 16 in Maharashtra including 7 teams as reserve, while one team each was deployed for Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. NDRF is aiding the state governments for evacuation of people from low lying coastal areas.

--IANS

rak/miz/vd