Unprecedented high tides in the sea and, consequently, in the Tapi river claimed two lives in Ichhapore and Sachin areas. The Ichhapore police found a dead body in the outskirts of Ichhapore village which, they said, could be a case of suicide. A woman's body was found in a creek near Sachin.

Gujarat Maritime Board sources said storm signal No 3 had been hoisted at the Magdalla Port on Wednesday, as the danger of the cyclone hitting the South Gujarat coast had been averted. On Tuesday, signal No 9 was hoisted to suggest that there was a ``great danger.''

The level of high tide reduced to 4.60 m on Wednesday from nearly 5.5 m on Tuesday. However, the water in the Tapi river was still enough to flood slums in the low-lying areas of the river bed. People continued to come out in large numbers on Surat bridges to watch the Tapi in spate and the partly submerged huts.

Though the sky remained overcast for most part of the day, the city did not receive any rains; not even drizzles. Last night, the city had received mild rains after intermittent drizzles earlier in the day. Valod and Mangrol talukas in the district received some rains.

More than 300 people had to be shifted from the coastal villages of Olpad taluka late last night following the possibility of sea water entering their houses. Residents of 19 villages in Valsad taluka were also shifted as a precautionary measure, according to Health Minister Ashok Bhatt, who came to Surat last night.

Bhatt and Water Supplies Minister Narottam Patel held a meeting with officials of the departments concerned at 3 a.m. to envisage the situation if the cyclone hit the coastal villages. Bhatt said residents of Dandi, Mora, Bhagwa, Delasa, Pardi, Zankhari, Kapasi, Kudiana, Adamje and Lavna, among other villages, had been shifted to government premises.

According to Officer on Special Duty at Valsad J N Singh, residents of Moti Danti, Nani Danti, Bageli, Jagalala, Hanumanbhagda, Kosamba, Kevalfaliu, Mogabdungri and Surala villages of Valsad taluka; three villages of Pardi taluka, and nine villages of Umargam taluka had been moved out of their houses.

The early morning meeting in Surat was attended by, among others, Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, who has been appointed officer on special duty for Surat, District Collector Sangeeta Singh, the district supply officer, the district health officer, the superintendent of the New Civil Hospital and the superintending engineer.

Forest Minister Kanjibhai Patel has reached Valsad while Tribal Development Minister Mangubhai Patel rushed to Navsari to supervise the operations.