Cyclone Biparjoy likely to spare Gujarat

AHMEDABAD/RAJKOT: The very severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' is likely to intensify into an extremely severe cyclonic storm on Saturday but may not hit Gujarat as per the current forecast, an IMD official said.
The cyclone is likely to pass 200-300 km from the Porbandar coast but will bring thunderstorms and strong wind to the state in the next five days.
In its latest forecast, the IMD said that it is very likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm and move north-northeastwards gradually during the next 24 hours, before moving north-north-westward during the subsequent three days.
Gujarat will witness thunderstorm activity during the next five days with wind speed remaining high especially in the Saurashtra-Kutch region.
"During the next two days, the Saurashtra-Kutch region will witness a wind speed of up to 30-40 kmph. Thereafter, the region may witness wind speed of up to 30-50 kmph gusting to 50 kmph, especially in coastal areas during June 13-15," said the director of the Ahmedabad IMD (India Meteorological Department) centre, Manorama Mohanty.
The cyclone already started showing its effect in Jamnagar which was lashed by rain and gusty winds. One person identified as Shaktisinh Gohil died after being struck by lightning on the outskirts of Amra village near Jamnagar. The weather changed suddenly in Jamnagar in the afternoon with squally weather leaving several trees uprooted. A roof-top solar system also got flung from a building and fell on the road.
The cyclone will bring a comparatively strong wind, especially in coastal districts such as Porbandar and Kutch, and Jamnagar gusting to 60 kmph and increasing to 75 kmph.
"The wind speed inside the sea will gradually increase from Sunday ranging from 35-45 kmph to 50 kmph of Saturday to 40-50 kmph gusting to 55 kmph, then to 50-60 kmph on June 12 and from 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph on Jun 13-14," she added.
Authorities have dispatched teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to the districts of Porbandar, Gir Somnath and Valsad.
The Indian Coast Guard has commenced an outreach to advise the fishing community, seafarers and stakeholders of Gujarat, Daman and Diu to take requisite precautions and safety measures.