Cyclone Nilofar to turn severe in next 24 hrs

Coastal districts in Gujarat would receive heavy to very heavy rainfall from Thursday as Cyclone Nilofar is reportedly going to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours.

Nilofar is expected to hit the land mass on October 28 morning with a wind speed of 90-100 kilometres per hour. Presently, it is located 1,270 kilometres west-southwest of western Mumbai.

According to the MeT Department, the storm, over west central and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea, has moved slightly northwards.

The administration has issued high alert and urged the fishermen not to venture into the sea.

"Porbandar district administration is completely alert. The officials of all the departments have been called and they have been told to take necessary steps. We appeal to fishermen, who have gone into the sea, to come back and no more fishermen should venture into sea," said an official of Porbandar district, Chetan Ganatra.

Cyclone Hudhud slammed into the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, tearing down tens of thousands of mud-and-thatch homes, and flattening rice, banana and sugarcane plantations.

The death toll from Hudhud a fortnight ago was put at 41, as authorities still struggle to restore power, transport and communication links and shelter 150,000 people forced to abandon their homes.