Cyclone Biparjoy starts making landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat, heavy rains batter Kutch, Saurashtra | WATCH
3 min read 15 Jun 2023, 07:24 PM ISTThe weather department also confirmed that the landfall process of Cyclone Biparjoy will continue till midnight. Winds of up to 145 kmph and heavy rains battered Kutch and Saurashtra coasts as agencies remain on high alert.
PremiumThe Indian Metrological Department (IMD) has confirmed that the Cyclone Biparjoy has begun its landfall process. The extremely severe cyclonic storm is still 70 kilometres away from Jakhau port in Gujarat. However, rainfall has commenced over the coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch.
The weather department also confirmed that the landfall process will continue till midnight. Winds of up to 145 kmph and heavy rains battered Kutch and Saurashtra coasts as agencies remain on high alert.
"...It will hit the coast between Karachi and Mandvi and close to Jakhau port of Gujarat. This is now located about 70 kilometres away from Jakhau port in the Arabian Sea. It is moving at a speed of about 15 kmph...Hence, the landfall process has commenced over the coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch...Upto midnight, the landfall process will continue..," said Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra, Director General, IMD.
The storm was packing winds of 125 kilometres per hour (78 miles per hour) and gusts of up to 140 kilometres per hour as it began to strike the coast of western Gujarat state at 6:30 pm (1330 GMT), the Indian Meteorological Department said.
Daman's seafront was lashed by massive waves as cyclone 'Biparjoy' is expected to make landfall on Thursday.
Cities of Gujarat, including Jamnagar, have been witnessing rainfall and strong wind conditions as cyclone 'Biparjoy' intensified today.
The cyclone expected to make landfall today between 6pm to 8pm has 'extensive damaging potential', the India Meteorological Department said.
"Biparjoy' is a very severe cyclonic storm with damaging potential. 2-3m high tidal waves are expected in Kachchh and extremely heavy rainfall with high wind speed is expected in Porbandar and Dwarka districts. The wind speed near the eye of the cyclone decreased, as expected," IMD DG Mrityunjay Mohapatra informed.
Authorities have evacuated around one lakh people living in vulnerable areas following a prompt warning from the IMD about the "extensive damaging potential" of the cyclone.
Officials said 15 NDRF teams, 12 teams of the State Disaster Response Force and personnel of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard and Border Security Force have been deployed for relief and rescue operations.
Cyclone Biparjoy: Damage warning
The expected impact of Cyclone Biparjoy, which literally means disaster in Bengali, could result in significant damage and disruptions. Meteorologists had warned of extensive damage to standing crops, houses, roads, electricity and communication poles, and flooding of escape routes.
High tides could inundate low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch coasts, they said.
The IMD issued a Red alert for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts, saying that VSCS (Very Severe Cyclonic Storm) 'Biparjoy' will cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts, between Mandvi and Karachi near Jakhau Port, by Thursday evening.
Warnings about extensive damage to temporary housing structures and falling of trees and branches due to high-speed winds, high tides and heavy rainfall have already been issued by India Meteorological Department.
"Sea conditions will remain disturbed in the northeast Arabian Sea due to cyclone 'Biparjoy'. All fishing operations should remain suspended. Offshore activities, port and industrial activities and oil explorations should be regulated today," the director general of IMD said.
Preparations for protection against the cyclone are on in full swing on the Gujarat coasts. District authorities have also been sharing timely updates on evacuation measures and the provision of temporary shelters for evacuees.