Cyclone Biparjoy is likely to make landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat's Kutch district late Thursday night as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' with wind speeds reaching a maximum of 140 kilometres per hour, the India Meteorological Department said. More than 95,000 people from eight coastal districts have been shifted to temporary shelters.
"Cyclone Warning for Saurashtra and Kutch Coasts: RED MESSAGE. VSCS BIPARJOY at 1130IST today near lat 22.8N & long 67.3E, about 140km WSW of Jakhau Port (Gujarat) and 190km WNW of Devbhumi Dwarka. To cross near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by tonight as VSCS," the IMD said in a tweet.
The IMD has also issued warnings about extensive damage to temporary housing structures and falling of trees and branches due to high speed winds, high tides and heavy rainfall.
"Sea conditions will remain disturbed in the northeast Arabian Sea due to cyclone 'Biparjoy'. All fishing operations should remain suspended. Offshore activities, port and industrial activities and oil explorations should be regulated today," it said.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a meeting at the state emergency operation centre in Gandhinagar on Thursday to review the preparedness.
In Kutch district alone, more than 46,000 people have been shifted to safer locations while all pregnant women were shifted to hospitals. “Our aim is to ensure zero casualties. I urge people to stay safe wherever they are and avoid travel at this time," State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said.
"Of 94,427 persons evacuated so far, 46,800 were evacuated in Kutch district, followed by 10,749 in Devbhumi Dwarka, 9,942 in Jamnagar, 9,243 in Morbi, 6,822 in Rajkot, 4,864 in Junagadh, 4,379 in Porbandar and 1,605 in Gir Somnath district," said an official release.
A state government spokesperson said that 1,521 shelter homes have been set up on a war footing. People have also been moved to 76 multipurpose cyclone centres in eight districts that are likely to be affected by the cyclone.
Fifteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 12 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed for the rescue and relief operations. Personnel of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard and Border Security Force (BSF) have also been deployed.
"Indian army has deployed more than 27 relief columns across Gujarat and the forward locations of Mandvi, and Dwarka. Army personnel have jointly started relief operations with civil administration as well as NDRF teams," Wing Commander N. Manish, Defence PRO and spokesperson, MoD of Gujarat, said.
In Kutch, educational institutions will remain closed till June 17. Majority of the temples of Kutch and Saurashtra regions like the Dwarka Temple, Somnath Temple and Mata No Madh will remain closed for at least two days.
In Ahmedabad, Sabarmati Riverfront has been closed for the pedestrians.
The Western Railway has cancelled 76 trains, short-terminated 36 services and short-originated 31 services as a precautionary measure for passenger safety and train operations.
Ahead of the cyclone landfall, several parts of Kutch, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka and Amreli received heavy rainfall ranging from 10-20 millimetres in six hours till Thursday noon.
(With inputs from Nandini Oza)
