More than 17,000 people evacuated as cyclone Nilofar nears Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: More than 17,000 people living near the coastal areas in Gujarat have been evacuated by authorities in view of the approaching tropical cyclone Nilofar which, however, has gradually weakened and is expected to hit the state merely as a "depression".

"So far, we have shifted 17,372 people from Kutch and Jamnagar district to safer places. Since the cyclone is expected to cross Kutch tomorrow, majority of the evacuees are from that district.

"The remaining 235 people are from the coastal parts of Jamnagar," Gujarat State Relief Commissioner DN Pandey said here today.

"Although the system has weakened, we do not wish to take any chances. Today, we shifted 8,646 villagers living in the coastal regions of Kutch, such as Naliya, Mundra, Gandhidham, Anjar and Jakhau, to safer places. We are also taking steps to alert people living in low-lying areas," said Kutch Collector Mahendra Patel.