The cyclonic storm lay centred at about 500 kms southwest of Veraval and is likely to intensify further and move in a northerly direction for some time and then recurve towards northeast and cross the Gujarat coast, IMD sources said today.

As a result, heavy rainfall is likely to commence at a few places along and off Gujarat coast by late tonight and strong wind speed with gale wind force reaching about 120 KMPH is likely to commence by tomorrow morning along the coast, IMD said.

Meanwhile, a report from Gandhinagar said Gujarat government has chalked out an elaborate disaster preparedness plan to meet any eventuality and alerted collectors of all coastal districts about the possibility of a Cylone hitting the state tomorrow.

BJP partyspokesman, Bharat Pandya, told PTI in Gandhinagar that a special cabinet meeting, under the chairmanship of state Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, was convened in Gandhinagar today to discuss the state's preparedness to meet any eventuality after the cyclone hits the state's coastal areas tomorrow.

According to the state relief director, S N Dave the cyclone, accompanied by winds having cruising speed of 90 km per hour, was moving in a north-westerly direction and likely to cross Jakhoa and Mandvi ports in Kutch district by tomorrow.

Meanwhile, according to reports reaching here, panic has gripped the Kandla port trust and other smaller ports in the coastal districts of the state following reports about a cyclone threat looming over Gujarat.

Last year, a severe cyclone had devastated Gujarat, particularly the Kandla port trust area in Kutch district and coastal Jamnagar claiming over 1,200 lives and causing extensive damage to public and private property amounting to Rs 1,200 crore.