As Cyclone Vayu began moving away from the Saurashtra coast in the afternoon, the Airports Authority of India said on Thursday that Kandla and Keshod airports will begin normal flight operations from 12 midnight today while other airports will likely start functioning by Friday morning.

According to ANI, following a review of the status of its airports in the state AAI said, “Normal flight operations will resume at Bhavnagar airport from 6 am tomorrow and at Diu and Porbandar airports from 10 am tomorrow.”

Flight operations at airports in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod and Kandla had been suspended since midnight of Wednesday.

Cyclone Vayu, which was threatening coastal Gujarat, started moving north-westwards. Heavy rains, however, continued to lash the coastal areas.

Areas affected by the rainfall included coastal areas such as Amreli, Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar, and Dwarka districts.

“VSCS ‘VAYU’ moved northwestwards with a speed of about 09 kmph located near latitude 20.9°N and longitude 69.0°E over northeast & adjoining eastcentral Arabian Sea, about 100 km south-southwest of Porbandar. It will move west-northwestwards skirting Saurashtra coast,” the IMD tweeted at 9.20 pm today.

VSCS ‘VAYU’ moved northwestwards with a speed of about 09 kmph located near latitude 20.9°N and longitude 69.0°E over northeast & adjoining eastcentral Arabian Sea, about 100 km south-southwest of https://t.co/HqxZaFf5iq will move west-northwestwards skirting Saurashtra coast . pic.twitter.com/ODS3nDCgJl

— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) June 13, 2019

The Chief Minister’s Office in Gujarat said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani immediately after reaching Bishkek for the SCO Summit and inquired about the cyclone preparedness and assured all assistance and support from Centre to mitigate the effects of the storm.

Reports say that over 3 lakh people have been evacuated to safety in Gujarat and Diu

Schools and colleges are shut in 10 coastal areas since Wednesday, and the Gujarat State Transport Service suspended its routine services to the areas that are likely to be affected.

The Western Railway has cancelled 35 mainline trains and more than 25 mainline trains have been short-terminated with partial cancellation as a precautionary measure in the areas likely to be affected by Cyclone Vayu.

Three special trains have been pressed into service for evacuation.

Thirty-nine NDRF teams are being pre-positioned in Gujarat and Diu for helping the governments in evacuation, search, rescue and relief operations. In addition, 34 teams of Army are also put on standby.

The fisherfolk have been advised not to venture into sea along and off the Gujarat coast during June 12-15.