Cyclone Biparjoy Inching Towards Gujarat Coast, Landfall Expected From 9 to 10 PM

KUTCH: Cyclone Biparjoy is now only 80 km away from Gujarat and it is likely to make landfall near Jakhau port in Kutch district of Gujarat in just a few hours.

Even as the cyclone is hovering above the Arabian Sea and headed towards the coast of Gujarat, the accompanying cyclonic storm has brought heavy rains, along with by strong winds, in the Saurashtra-Kutch region. Such weather activity has also been seen in nearby Keti Bandar in Sindh district of Pakistan.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that Biparjoy had slightly changed its path on Wednesday and is now moving north-eastwards towards Kutch and Saurashtra. It will make landfall as a “very severe cyclonic storm” while the wind speed will range from 115-125 kmph and gusting up to 140 kmph upon making landfall.

While the cyclone continues to inch closer to make landfall soon, almost one lakh people living in vulnerable areas of Gujarat have been evacuated and disaster management personnel have been deployed to carry relief and rescue measures, officials said.

Officials also said that people residing in villages that are within a 10 km radius of the coast will soon be moved to temporary shelters, as Kutch is expected to face the primary force of the cyclone.

With the cyclone in the Arabian Sea continuing to make its way towards the Gujarat coast, many areas in the Saurashtra-Kutch region experienced heavy rainfall, which was accompanied by strong winds, said the Met department.

After cyclone 'Tauktae' that hit in May 2021, this will be the second cyclone to hit Gujarat in the last two years.

According to the latest IMD bulletin, the cyclone is expected to move northeastwards and by tonight move across Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts, between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph.

On Thursday, the NDRF has evacuated 72 civilians, including 15 children, from the low lying area in Rupen Bander and shifted the people to the NDH School at Dwarka.

Indian Coast Guard said in a tweet on preparedness off Gujarat coast for Cyclone Biporjoy; “15 Ships ready in multiple configurations. 7 aircraft in SAR role for rescue ops in the sea. 23 disaster relief teams with 29 gemini boats, 50 OBMs (Out Board Motor) for boats 1000 lifejackets and 200 lifebuoys, formed up in the ICG stations for aid to civil authorities.”

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