At 55 kmph speedy thunderstorm claimed two lives and injured 7 in Rajkot district on Tuesday night. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared an alert for a cyclone storm which named as Phet. Cyclone storm Phet may hit the coast of Gujarat in the next 48 hours.

Weather officials said on Tuesday evening that Cyclonic storm Phet in the Arabian Sea is estimated to approach towards Gujarat in the next three days. The officials said that on Tuesday, the storm lay centered around 1,140 km west of Mumbai in sea, notched wind speeds of up to 85 kmph and as it builds up in intensity. There could be stormy winds of up to 160 kmph.

NASA satellite images definite that Tropical cyclone 03A has strengthened speedily in the last 24 hours thus the cyclone storm has been renamed Tropical Storm Phet. The storm is centered in the Arabian Sea, Northern Indian Ocean, and is threatening the Indian and Pakistani coastlines.

Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa have been put on alert since the severity of Phet could intensify as it travels towards north in the next three days.

The Maharashtra weather department has counseled fishermen to avoid from venturing out into the seas. There will be extensive rainfall with heavy to very heavy rains over waterside areas of Gujarat from Wednesday under the influence of Phet.

The weather bureau said that speedy winds reaching 75 kmph would commence along and off Gujarat beach from Wednesday and rise slowly. The weather bureau thinks that Phet to take a turn slowly in a north-northwesterly direction Wednesday towards Gujarat.

Most parts of western Maharashtra have been experiencing heavy pre-monsoon rains since Monday including Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Satara and coastal Ratnagiri.

On Tuesday evening, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi held emergency meeting with senior government officials to consider for the latest developments on south-western cyclonic disturbances which is expected to hit Gujarat coast. Ahmedabad director of Indian Meteorological Department Dr Kamaljeet Ray, besides GSDMA additional executive director Shri V. Thiruppugazh, Principal Secretary Revenue Shri P. Paneervel, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Shri Kaliashnathan, Relief Commissioner presented in this meeting.

Chief Minister Modi ordered to the entire administration to be ready for the contingency and public awareness. In the coastal area, the district authorities have been put to meet at least twice daily till the all clear signal. The district level government teams have been moved to coastal areas and canceled holidays of their employees.

According to sources, in most parts of the Suarashtra the rain arises including Junagadh, Mangrol, Sasangir, Veraval, and Amreli. The SRP teams are dispatched at Junagadh, Rajkot, Amreli. A dramatic change with lightening was viewed in several parts of the state including Ahmedabad underwent the hot and sultry weather.

Kamaljit Ray a Director of The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) of Gujarat said, “The depression over Arabian Sea moved north-westwards and lay centered about 1,030 km south-west of Naliya in Gujarat on Tuesday”.

On 1st June 2010 The Indian Meteorological Department's Regional Specialized Meteorological Center stated, "Under the influence of this system, fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would commence over coastal areas of Gujarat from June 3 and increase thereafter. Squally winds with speed reaching 55-65 kmph (34-40 mph) (with higher gusts) would commence along and off Gujarat coast from June 2 and increase gradually."

According to news, 15 year old Sanjay Baraiyya was died by lightening when working in an open field in Khakana village on the outskirts of Rajkot city and a woman who worked working with him sustained severe injuries. Due to windy weather a compound wall crashed in Pipaliya village of Wankaner town of Rajkot district and a woman died on the spot identified as Guddiben. There were 6 persons also crushed under the debris and injured.

District authorities in Kutch and Porbandar have issued warnings for saltpan workers, fishermen and labourers working in these areas that they not ventures into the sea till the second notice.

According to sources in the Met department, the location of the cyclone is expected to be around 16 degree north latitude and 63 degree east longitude about 1,030 kilometers, south-west of Naliya.

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