OCHA Situation Report No. 2
India - Cyclone 01A
28 May 2001


This message is not an official cyclone warning, nor is it an alert for
any country.

Situation

1.  Tropical Cyclone 01A over the Arabian sea approaches the Gujarat
coastline of India though it appears to be weakening. According to the
latest cyclone warning bulletin (No.20) issued by the India Meteorological
Department (IMD) at 1130 hrs (local time) on 28 May 2001, the cyclonic
storm has moved slowly northwards and lay centred about 250 km southwest
of Porbandar at 0830 hrs on 28 May, with associated wind speed of 70-80
km/h.

2.  The bulletin indicates that the system is likely to move in a
north-northeasterly direction and possibly recurve and cross the Gujarat
coast between Veraval and Naliya late at night on 28 May or early in the
morning on 29 May. Severe weather accompanied by widespread rainfall with
scattered heavy to very heavy falls and squally winds reaching a speed of
60-70 km/h is likely to affect Saurashtra and Kutch during the next 24 to
48 hours. Storm surges of 1.5 to 2.0 metres over and above astronomical
tide levels are expected near the landfall point and the sea will be high
along and off the Gujarat and north Maharashtra coasts.


National Response

3.  The Control Room at the Indian Ministry of Agriculture has been
working round the clock and is in constant touch with the IMD and with the
governments of the respective States. The Cabinet Secretary has been
holding daily meetings of National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)
since 23 May to review the preparatory measures and action taken by
relevant entities.

4.  The army is on standby in Gujarat; paramilitary forces have been
shifted to Kutch, Jamnagar, Porbandar and Junagarh from south Gujarat
where they had previously been posted. Authorities have been broadcasting
radio warnings to more than 950 fishermen who had sailed from the port
city of Jamnagar.

5.  The government of the neighbouring State of Rajasthan has alerted
collectors in 11 districts falling within the Udaipur and Jodhpur
divisions to take appropriate preparedness measures. A control room is
already operational in Jaipur.

6.  The activities undertaken by the Indian authorities are reflected on
their Internet website at http://www.ndmindia.nic.in.


International Response

7.  The UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) in New Delhi has been
monitoring the situation in consultation with the Indian authorities.

8.  In Bhuj, representatives of UN agencies and national and international
NGOs are meeting every day to review the preparedness measures and discuss
the latest cyclone situation. It was agreed on 25 May that in the event of
the cyclone hitting the Kutch coast, a post-cyclone assessment should be
conducted by UN and international agencies on the magnitude of damage and
relief needs. WHO and UNDP have prepared a contingency plan; four WHO
vehicles with four UNDP engineers and four WHO doctors will be on standby
to lend all possible assistance to the local administration.

9.  The UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Islamabad, Pakistan is in
contact with the Pakistani authorities and informed on 27 May that while
no part of Pakistan is under threat, coastal authorities and the Karachi
administration have almost completed plans to meet any eventuality.

10. OCHA Geneva is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's
Offices in New Delhi and in Islamabad, and will revert with further
information if the situation warrants it.

11. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet website at
http://www.reliefweb.int



Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
  Mr. F. Gentiloni / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka / Mr. K. Quiding
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3512 / 3131 / 4034 / 1769


Press contact:
  (GVA)  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-91726 53
   (NY)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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