New Delhi: Cyclone Phet is likely to intensify, change its course and move towards the western coast of India. The meteorological department has issued a warning for the Indian coast as Cyclone Phet, which has been hovering around the Arabian Peninsula at present and is heading for the coast of Oman, is expected to re-curve back towards Pakistan and the coast of Gujarat.
Widespread rainfall is predicted in areas near Gujarat coast. The meteorological department says the cyclonic storm will bring more rains in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Heavy rainfall is expected over coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch from Friday.
Fishermen along and off the coast of Gujarat have been warned against going into the sea. Two persons reportedly died along the coastal area near Jamnagar on Wednesday due to lightning and turbulent sea caused by the cyclone.
The storm remained stationary ion Wednesday and was about 1050 km southwest of Naliya in Kutch. Rainfall due to the cyclone was recorded in many parts of the coastal districts of Gujarat including Jamnagar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Surat, Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Vadodara.
Phet is at present a Category 3 storm, but is expected to become a Category 5 storm, the most powerful with winds of over 156 mph within the next 24 hours.
The storm could also havoc in Pakistan, disrupt life in the coastal areas and in the Sindh province. Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi is likely to bear the brunt as meteorologists warned that the cyclone could disrupt life in the coastal areas near the city.
Meanwhile, large parts of North India woke up to a massive dust storm on Thursday morning. The dust storm also brought some relief from the scorching sun.
The morning temperature went up to 34.2 degrees Celsius, six degrees above normal while the maximum settled at 42.8 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal in Delhi. Meteorological officials attributed the rise in temperature to two factors - a dusty and cloudy morning, and the approach of a western disturbance. Rains are expected over the weekend in many parts of North India even as Jammu received heavy torrential rains in which two have children died.
Over 100 nomads are reported missing and hundreds have been trapped in snow in the higher reaches. Nearly 4,700 livestock are dead in Wadhwan area of Kishtwar. Seven teams of the Army are carrying on relief and rescue operations. The Air Force is also helping in the search operations.
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