JUST IN: Manorama Mohanty, scientist at India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ahmedabad, says Cyclone Vayu won't hit Gujarat.

"It will pass nearby from Veraval, Porbandar, Dwarka. Its effect will be seen on the coastal regions as there will be heavy wind speed and heavy rain as well," Mohanty said.

Earlier, the cyclone was expected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon.

The state government has shifted around three lakh people from low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions, officials said on Wednesday.

According to the latest weather report, the cyclone has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm and changed its course slightly.

Now, it would hit the Gujarat coast anywhere between Veraval in the south and Dwarka in the west Thursday afternoon.

The Airports Authority of India announced that flight operations will remain suspended at five airports in Gujarat for 24 hours from midnight Wednesday to minimise the damage to airport infrastructure and to avoid inconvenience to passengers due to the cyclone.

State Relief director M R Kothari said, "The evacuation process, which was started today morning, is nearing its end. Our target is to shift around three lakh people to safer places".

After making landfall, the cyclone 'is likely to move along and parallel to Saurashtra and Kutch coast', the Met department had said.