The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy will weaken into a Severe Cyclonic Storm on Friday morning before turning into a depression over South Rajasthan by evening.
The storm will bring strong winds with a speed of 60 to 70 km per hour. The districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jalore, and Jodhpur in Rajasthan will witness heavy rainfall. Rains will lash Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Ajmer on Saturday too.
The latest tweet from IMD read: "At 0230 of Today, 16th June the SCS BIPARJOY lay centered over Saurashtra-Kutch region, 30 km north of Naliya. it would further move NE-wards and weaken into a CS by the early morning of 16th and into a depression by the same evening over south Rajasthan."
IMD director Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the cyclone has now moved from sea to land and is centred towards Saurashtra-Kutch. "Cyclone Biporjoy moved northeastwards and crossed the Saurashtra-Kutch adjoining Pakistan coast close to the Jakhau port, Gujarat. The cyclone has now moved from sea to land and is centred towards Saurashtra-Kutch," Mohapatra told ANI.
"The intensity of the cyclone has reduced to 105-115 kmph. The category has changed from very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) to severe cyclonic storm (SCS). There may be heavy rains in Rajasthan on June 16 (Friday)," he added.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Thursday that the state was prepared to face the cyclone and the accompanying heavy rainfall. "We have done a review. People of Civil Defense and Disaster Management have been deputed and there is no need to panic," he told reporters. Gehlot also warned people in Barmer and Jalore to stay alert ahead of the impending cyclone.
Power outage in Kutch
Biparjoy, which made landfall in Gujarat on Thursday, caused flooding in low-lying areas and widespread power outages across Gujarat's Kutch district. The storm packed high winds and heavy rains, causing trees and power lines to uproot at Mandvi in Kutch district.
The entire town of Mandvi plunged into darkness after the storm. "No casualties have been reported so far," district collector Amit Arora said. "Over 200 electric poles have been uprooted, 250 trees are uprooted, and we have cut power supply in five tehsils as a precautionary measure," he told reporters.
"We have shifted people to shelters from the areas which are going to be most affected by cyclone which is 10 kms from the shore. We shifted around 52,000 people to shelters. We have shifted 25,000 cattle to higher grounds too," he said. No major mishap had taken place so far, he said.
The Morbi district also witnessed widespread power outages in 45 villages after the storm damaged over 300 electric poles. Officials with the Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) said that efforts are underway to restore power in nine of the affected villages. "Strong winds broke electric wires and poles, causing a power outage in 45 villages of Maliya tehsil. We are restoring power in 9 villages and power has been restored in the remaining villages," PGVCL's executive engineer, Morbi, JC Goswami told ANI.
PM Modi rings up Patel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel over the phone on Thursday night and enquired about the situation. Patel said the Prime Minister sought to know the steps taken by the state administration for the safety of wild animals, especially the lions in the Gir forest.
Gujarat Forest Department had constituted 184 'rapid action' squads to rescue wild animals and to clear fallen trees in the entire Asiatic lion zone, it said. While some radio-collared lions are being tracked through satellite signals, others are being tracked by the forest staff. The movement of 40 lions living near the coastal areas is also being closely monitored, said the release. As many as 58 control rooms have been set up to address any wildlife emergency.