By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 12, 2019: Odisha government on Wednesday offered all help to Gujarat, which is likely to be hit by a severe cyclone ‘Vayu’ on Thursday. The western state has evacuated more than two lakh people from low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions to safer places.

Gujarat Chief Secretary JN Singh called up his Odisha counterpart A P Padhi and sought Odisha’s advice on how to tackle the cyclonic storm on a war-footing, officials said on Wednesday.

“Gujarat chief secretary had called me up and discussed the measures to be taken ahead of the landfall. We have offered all kinds of help to Gujarat. However, the Gujarat chief secretary has said that they will seek further help if required keeping in view the situation,” AP Padhi told reporters.

The Gujarat government is in constant touch with Odisha in view of the eastern state’s successful handling of similar calamities like cyclone ‘Fani’ in May this year and cyclone ‘Titli’ last year, officials said.

Odisha has been highly successful in bringing down human casualties by properly handling of the situation. Odisha government during cyclone ‘Fani’ had created a record by evacuating above 15 lakh people to safe places ahead of the landfall of cyclone Fani near Puri.

Meanwhile, cyclone Vayu has turned into a “very severe cyclonic storm” and it is likely to cause gusty winds to blow at a speed of 145 kmph to 170 kmph by Thursday morning, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).