As Cyclone Vayu advances towards the Gujarat coast, the Odisha government on Wednesday offered help to the western State, which has launched a massive evacuation exercise to shift people from low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions.
Gujarat Chief Secretary J.N. Singh called up his Odisha counterpart A.P. Padhi and sought Odisha’s advice on how to tackle the cyclonic storm on a war-footing, officials said.
“Gujarat chief secretary had called me up and discussed the measures to be taken ahead of the landfall. We have offered all kind of help to Gujarat. However, the Gujarat chief secretary has said that they will seek further help if required keeping in view the situation,” Mr. Padhi told reporters.
The Gujarat government is in constant touch with Odisha in view of the eastern State’s successful handing of similar calamities like Cyclone Fani in May this year and Cyclone Titli last year, officials said.
 
In both the cases, Odisha had been successful in reducing the human casualties due to proper handling of the situation. The Odisha government, during Cyclone Fani, had created a record by evacuating above 15 lakh people to safe place ahead of the cyclone’s landfall near Puri.
Meanwhile, Cyclone Vayu has turned into a “very severe cyclonic storm” and it is likely to cause gusty winds to blow at a speed of 145 kmph to 170 kmph by Thursday morning, according to IMD.