Cyclone Biparjoy To Touch Gujarat Coast Between 4 PM & 8 PM Tomorrow; 69 Trains Cancelled

Bhubaneswar: While Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to land near Jakhau Port in Gujarat, adjoining Pakistan coasts, on June 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded Red alert as cyclone warning for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts on Wednesday morning.

“Cyclone Warning for Saurashtra & Kutch Coasts: RED MESSAGE. VSCS BIPARJOY at 8.30 today over NE Arabian Sea, about 280km WSW of Jakhau Port (Gujarat) and 290km WSW of Devbhumi Dwarka. To cross near Jakhau Port by evening of June 15 as very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph.”

Landfall is expected in the evening between 4 pm and 8 pm. It has “extensive damaging potential” and is likely to impact Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts of Gujarat the most, the IMD said.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh and Morbi on June 15 with waterlogging in low-lying areas of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Morbi. The MeT office has also warned of extensive damage to thatched houses in these areas.

The Gujarat government has evacuated around 40,000 people from 8 coastal districts and fishing has been suspended. Schools also have been shut. Around 4,500 people have been shifted to shelter homes as a precautionary safety measure, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Parth Talsania told ANI. He further informed that cyclone Biparjoy has moved slightly to the west and is less likely to make landfall at the Dwarka coast, but a wind speed of around 100 to 80 kilometres is expected.

While 30 teams of the national and state disaster response forces have been deployed, 78 Army personnel from Jamnagar Military Station left for Devbhoomi Dwarka for relief and rescue operations as part of a precautionary measure in view of the possible condition of Biparjoy Cyclone.

Those affected by Biparjoy can reach out for help on the toll-free number 1077. Gujarat’s industries department has also launched a separate helpline at GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation) headquarters.

According to the Western Railway, a total of 69 trains have been cancelled, 33 trains short-terminated and 27 trains short-originated as a precautionary measure.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed preparedness for cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ in the national capital on Tuesday and directed all stakeholders and officers to ensure ‘zero casualties’ and minimise the possible damage. He has asked the Gujarat government to have measures in place to restore necessary services, such as electricity, telecommunication, health and drinking water, in case of damage.