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Gujrat braces for cyclone Nilofar

by IBNS 27 Oct 2014, 11:27 pm

Ahmedabad, Oct 28 (IBNS): Officials in Gujrat made serious efforts on Tuesday to evacuate residents and stockpile food as they braced for another very severe cyclonic storm due to make a landfall on the west coast on Friday morning, media reports said.

According to the Indian Meterological Department, Cyclone Nilofar is building in the Arabian Sea and due to hit Gujarat and Pakistan’s southern coastal areas.

Weather officials, however, said that the cyclone may weaken before it slams into the coastal belt. It is expected to pass near Goa in the next one day

The National Disaster Response Force was also put on alert in Gujarat.

Chief Minister Anandiben Patel held a high-level meeting to review the situation.

Sources said the storm, packing winds of up to 125-km  (83 miles) per hour, comes after Cyclone Hudhud that hit the east coast earlier this month, leaving nearly 20 people dead in Andhra Pradesh.

In October last year, cyclone Phailin had struck with a wind speed of up to 220-km causing extensive damage in a part of India.