Gandhinagar, Jun 3 (IANS): The Gujarat government on Wednesday said that over 50,000 people living in low-lying vulnerable areas in south Gujarat were shifted to safer places as a precautionary measure against cyclone Nisarga.

Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) told the media: "We have shifted more than 50,000 people living in coastal areas of south Gujarat. Special measures are being taken in Valsad and Navsari districts as the cyclone is expected to make an impact there. The administration is taking all precautions regarding Covid-19 at shelter houses."

"We have also ensured that no power cuts occur at Covid-19 hospitals in these areas during the severe cyclone. All fishermen in these areas have been asked to return from the sea. People associated with prawn cultivation and salt pans have been shifted to safer places."

The officer said: "In coordination with the district administrations, proper security and safety measures have been taken in chemical industries situated in and surrounding Vapi and Surat. The district administrations have issued instructions and accordingly, most industrial units in Vapi will remain shut on Wednesday."

The district administration had 236 large hoardings pulled down in Surat, Valsad and other cities in south Gujarat, following predictions about the cyclone. Moreover, 125 high masts too have been pulled down as a precaution.

"More than 250 pregnant women in vulnerable areas have been moved to safer places and more than 250 ambulances put on stand-by. Around 170 medical emergency teams have been deployed to tackle the situation in south Gujarat," Kumar added.

Nisarga is likely to hit northern Maharashtra and southern Gujarat on or after June 3 afternoon with winds gushing up to 100-110 km per hour. The state has set up 140 shelters and other accommodations to put up evacuated people who were living in kutcha houses and other dwellings in coastal areas of Surat, Navsari, Valsad, and Bharuch.

As many as 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 6 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams will be available for deployment in the state. Two NDRF teams have been deployed in Valsad and one each in Navsari, Bharuch, Surat, Anand, Kheda, Gir-Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar.