Gujarat ports asked to hoist cyclone warning signal

Ahmedabad: As a depression over the Arabian sea off Mumbai coast intensified into a cyclonic storm, the Gujarat Meteorological Centre on Thursday asked the authorities of all the ports to hoist warning signal-II, though the storm is not likely to have any impact on the state's coast.

At present the cyclone, named 'Chapala', lays centred in the east-central Arabian sea, about 1,090 km from Mumbai. According to Meteorological norms, Distant Warning signal No. II (DW II) is hoisted when the system gets intensified into a storm but remains at sea.

"Yesterday's depression over east-central Arabian Sea and adjoining areas has today intensified into a cyclonic storm 'Chapala' and lay centred over east central and adjoining west central Arabian sea, about 1,090 km southwest of Mumbai," said the warning issued to all the Gujarat ports this afternoon.

"It will move north-westwards during next six hours and then move westwards towards Yemen and adjoining Oman coasts. Hoist Distant Warning Signal No-2(DW-II) at your port," it said.

GMC Director Jayanta Sarkar said the warning was only a precautionary measure. "The cyclonic storm will leave no impact on Gujarat's coastal areas. However, as a precaution, we have asked all the ports to hoist that signal to warn those who have planned to venture into the sea," he said.