Thousands evacuated as cyclone weakens
Thousands of people were evacuated from India’s western coast even as a cyclone churning in the Arabian Sea for more than 36 hours weakened today, officials said.
‘‘The storm has been practically stationary. It is moving very slowly and there is a possibility of its fizzling out,’’ said S. R. Kalsi, deputy director of New Delhi’s Meteorology Department.
Kalsi warned, however, that it could still bring heavy rain and winds of speeds up to 85-95 mph.
Meteorologists said the cyclone was expected to reach the coastal areas on Sunday night.
R. K. Kankane, director of the Gujarat meteorological office, said there was a chance that it could land on the coastline of Pakistan or Iran.
In Pakistan, the Government had evacuated nearly 50,000 people living near the border with India and advised fishermen not to venture out to sea.
Kankane said the cyclone may swing wide of the western Indian state, which was devastated by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 20,00 people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes in January.
But authorities were taking no chances.
With the army standing by, the Indian government deployed 20,000 relief workers to help with the evacuation of nearly 118,000 people in Gujarat.
Thousands of people, who have been living in tents and tin sheds since the January quake destroyed their homes, were the most vulnerable to strong winds.
Authorities have been broadcasting radio warnings to more than 950 fishermen who had sailed from the port city of Jamnagar. Government relief helicopters have joined in the effort to locate and lead them to safety, said Rohit Pathak, a district administrator.
Despite the Government’s efforts, many in the village of Mingalpuran were wondering when the aid would dry up. They said the local government had done little to help them get back on their feet three years ago, when a storm triggered a tidal wave that ruined crops.
‘‘Our fields were damaged by salt water,’’ said Babu Shaikh, one of the hundreds of farmers evacuated to a nearby town. ‘‘This time what will we do if the same thing happens?’’
