The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy, the landfall of which is expected on Thursday evening, is less than 200 kilometres from the Gujarat coast, said India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The latest alert by the IMD read: "Cyclone Warning for Saurashtra and Kutch Coasts: RED MESSAGE. VSCS BIPARJOY at 0830IST today near lat 22.6N & long 67.1E, about 170km WSW of Jakhau Port (Gujarat) and 210km West of Devbhumi Dwarka. To cross near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by evening of today as VSCS."
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level meeting in the state emergency control room and Home Minister Amit Shah is closely monitoring the situation as well.
IMD director general Mrityunjay Mohapatra said the storm is currently 180 km away from Jakhau port. "This morning Cyclone Biparjoy is moving north-northeastwards towards Saurashtra and Kutch coast and is around 180 km away from Jakhau port. It is currently centred on the northeast Arabian Sea. The wind speed is 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph. By the evening, it will reach the coast and hit the Saurashtra-Kutch coast near Jakhau port and the Pakistan coast. The predicted wind speed is 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph, a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm", he added.
Though the cyclone has weakened and the wind speeds reduced marginally at the cyclone's centre, it is still a severe storm. "The speed of CycloneBiparjoy has reduced but the wind speed will be around 110-125 kmph, which is still very dangerous," Alok Pandey, Relief Commissioner, Gandhinagar, told ANI.
Over 95,000 people, including 1,131 pregnant women living in vulnerable areas have been evacuated, including nearly 120 villages located between zero and 10 km from the seashore in Kutch district.
As many as 1,521 shelter homes have been set up, said a state government spokesperson.
The state government has deployed 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 12 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 115 teams of the state road and building department, and 397 teams of the state electricity department across the coastal districts. This is besides the Army, Coast Guard and BSF (Border Security Force), who are on standby for rescue and relief post-cyclone.
"The speed of wind is around 60-70 kmph right now. We have reviewed the coastal areas and the low-lying areas and forces have been deployed there. We appeal to the people of the state to stay indoors and follow the guidelines issued by the government," NDRF assistant commandant Nikhil Mudholkar.
Ahead of the landfall, heavy rain and strong wind are lashing parts of Morbi and Jamnagar in Gujarat. The IMD had already predicted heavy rainfall in isolated places of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts as the weather system approaches. In Kutch, educational institutions will remain closed till June 17.
(With inputs from Nandini Oza)