QAhmedabad: Cyclone Vayu Sidesteps Gujarat, This & More

Here is your roundup of the top stories from Ahmedabad: Vayu Skirts Saurashtra, Guj still on alert over heavy rains.

Porbandar: A team of NDRF facilitating evacuation across the Porbandar-Diu-Veraval coastal expanse in the wake of Cyclone Vayu which is likely to hit the Gujarat coast on Thursday; on 12 June 2019.

(Photo: IANS/PIB)

1. After All That Prep, Cyclone Vayu Sidesteps Gujarat

Even as Gujarat had been bracing for Cyclone Vayu's fury, the state managed to avert a disaster after it failed to make landfall till late evening. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, however, said the cyclone will still skirt the coast of the state along Saurashtra and bring with it the possibility of strong winds and very heavy rainfall.

Additionally, Gujarat continues to remain on high alert despite the change in the cyclone's path as the threat of destruction has not yet abated. "We have been informed that the cyclone has changed its course, but there will be heavy winds and rains so we are still on alert," said Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary.

IMD officials, in a release, said that the cyclone will now move north-northwestwards while skirting the Saurashtra coast with wind speed expected to be 90-100 kmph and likely to lash Gir Somnath, Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Diu, and Junagadh. Officials added that the cyclone is currently 110 km from Veraval.

(Source: DNA)

2. Lord Krishna’s Grace, Says CM Vijay Rupani as Cyclone Vayu Skips Gujarat

Very severe cyclonic storm, Vayu, skirted the Gujarat coast and moved northwestward towards Oman on Thursday, 13 June, said Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday even as the government continued to remain on high alert for most part of the day to counter any exigencies caused by the cyclonic storm having an expanse of 900 square kilometres.

Though the “eye of the storm” is away from land, the cyclone’s outer periphery would leave its impact on the coast, officials said.

“Due to the grace of Lord Krishna, Lord Somnath and Harsiddh Mata, Cyclone Vayu has taken a turn. As per forecast, the cyclone, which was expected to make landfall in Gujarat, diverted to Oman and a big adversity has been averted. Still, we will maintain alert throughout the night in all the 10 districts and will take a call at 8am on Friday,” said Rupani after an hour-long review meeting with state government officials.

(Source: Indian Express)

3. Make Fire Insurance Mandatory – PIL

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday sought a reply from the urban development department, municipal and police commissioners of Surat, and Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited, after a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the court's direction to make fire insurance coverage mandatory for commercial complexes, malls, banquets, coaching classes, and schools, came up for hearing. The division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav issued notice to the authorities directing them to file their reply by 27 June.

The petitioner Sajeev Ezhava through his counsel Vishal Dave pointed out that the recent fire incident at Takshashila Complex in Surat which resulted in 22 deaths has revealed the ground reality as far as implementation of fire safety norms are concerned.

(Source: DNA)

4. HC Seeks Probe Report From Gujarat Govt on Surat Fire Tragedy

The Gujarat High Court has sought a detailed report from the state government on the investigation into the Surat fire tragedy that claimed lives of 22 students of a coaching institute last month.

Hearing a petition seeking a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the incident, Justice S H Vora asked the government to submit its report by 24 July.

The court also issued a notice to the state government on the petition moved by Jaysukh Gajera, father of a 17-year- old girl, who died in the fire at a four-storey commercial complex in Surat.

Gajera, while demanding that the probe into the incident be transferred to the state CID, also sought action against civic officials for allegedly regularising the illegal construction in complex.

(Source: Indian Express)

5. Gujarat High Court Seeks Details, Expenditure of OBC Commission

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday sought a reply from the state government on the functioning of the OBC commission and the work done by it so far since its formation in 1993. The court has also sought the details of the public money spent for the functioning of the commission as well as the number of resolutions passed by it.

The information was sought by the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Umiya Parivaar Visnagar, a Patidar organisation, through its president Ishwar Patel. The organisation demanded that the court should direct the state government to form a permanent commission to examine various requests pertaining to inclusion and exclusion of castes under the OBC list.

(Source: DNA)