Cyclone loses intensity

By Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR, MAY 26. The severe cyclonic storm in the Arabian sea, which was threatening the earthquake-battered Gujarat, has dissipated. The State Revenue Minister, Mr. Vajubhai Vala, however, said here today that the red alert would remain in force at least till tomorrow. The man-power and machinery already mobilised would be kept on stand-by till the threat was completely over.

According to the Director of the Indian Meteorological Department, Ahmedabad, Mr. R.K. Kankane, the storm had lost its ``intensity and damaging potential'' and even if it hit the Kutch-Saurashtra coast, it would only provide ``benevolent rainfall''.

The eye of the storm had become ``completely blurred'' which indicated that the intensity had been reduced and that it could ``collapse'' in the high seas or might drift away further. The ``very serious cyclonic storm,'' became just a ``severe storm'' today with its circulating speed coming down from about 200 km on Wednesday to about 70 km per hour. It marginally moved westward and is centered at 17.5 degrees north latitude and 67.5 degrees east longitude about 550 km south south-west of Porbandar in the Saurashtra region.

If it moves forward, it could hit the Kutch-Saurashtra coast between Veraval in Junagadh district and Nalia in Kutch district some time on Sunday night or Monday morning.

Mr. Kankane said the storm was ``showing the tendency of reducing intensity and deorganisation'' and that it would not regain strength. The low pressure could help advance the monsoon which was expected to be normal this year.

The IMD said the entire south and central Gujarat regions from Vapi to Ahmedabad had been ``de-alerted'' and only Kutch, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Porbandar districts and the union territory of Diu had been asked to keep a close watch.

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