Double Trouble: Earthquake Hits Gujarat’s Kutch Day Before Cyclone Biparjoy’s Landfall

Gandhinagar: This is what is called double trouble!

Even as the administration is leaving no stone unturned to evacuate thousands of people and ensure their safety ahead of the impending Cyclone Biparjoy, an earthquake of 3.5 magnitude struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday.

And this a day before Biparjoy is expected make landfall in Kutch.

According to the Institute of Seismological Research, Gandhinagar, epicentre of the earthquake was 5 kilometres west-southwest of Bhachau in Kutch district. The tremors were felt around 5.05 pm today.

No damage to life or property has, however, been reported so far.

The very severe cyclonic storm is likely to hit Gujarat and adjoining Pakistan coasts between 4 pm and 8 pm on June 15.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Saurashtra, Dwarka and Kutch coasts as it expects Biparjoy to cause severe damage.

Around 50,000 people living near the sea in eight districts of Gujarat have been evacuated

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to the three Service chiefs and reviewed preparations of the Armed forces to deal with the impact of Biparjoy, if necessary.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled visits to Telangana and Odisha which were scheduled in the next two days and is monitoring the situation closely.

Besides Gujarat, IMD has sounded heavy rainfall warning in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Daman Diu, Lakshadweep, Dadar and Nagar Haveli.