Cyclone Biparjoy Makes Landfall At Gujarat Coast, Strong Winds, Heavy Rain

The landfall process for Cyclone Biparjoy is peaking, with 125 kmph winds and heavy rain pummeling the Gujarat coast. The entire process is expected to continue till midnight.

“The landfall process has started. The cyclone is still 70 km away and is moving towards the coast. The cyclone will cross the sea and be inland by midnight… The wind speed has now about to reach its maximum, 125 kmph,” said Dr M Mohapatra, the chief of Indian Meteorological Office.

Biparjoy has been classified as a Category 3 “very severe cyclonic storm”, which is battering parts of the coastal Gujarat.

The eye, meaning the centre of the cyclone, is 50 km wide, which is on the larger side. It is expected to hit the coast around 10 pm, bringing a lull of sorts, Dr Mohapatra said. But the wind and rain will pick up again once it passes.Currently, the eye is now around 20 km from the Jakhau coast.

Heavy to extremely rainfall will continue in Suarashtra and Kutch till June 16. Extremely heavy rainfall is likely in Rajasthan on June 16 and 17, as the cyclone moves towards northwest, Mr Mohapatra said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has chaired a meeting in Gandhinagar to review preparations for the cyclone. Nearly one lakh people have been evacuated and moved to shelters ahead of the cyclone’s landfall. These include people from nearly 20 villages living within 10 km of the coast.

Eighteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 12 of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 115 teams of state road and building department, and 397 of the state electricity department are on the ground in coastal districts.

The Defence Ministry has said the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard have made necessary preparations to provide assistance to the local people.

Fishing activities have been suspended till tomorrow, ports are shut and ships are anchored. Western Railways said 76 trains have been cancelled as a precautionary measure.Two famous temples — Dwarkadhish Temple in Devbhumi Dwarka and Somnath Temple in Gir Somnath district — remained closed to devotees on Thursday.

Commercial operations at Gujarat’s Jamnagar airport have been suspended till Friday. Airport authorities said diesel and petrol required to operate the airport in an emergency have been stored.