1,000 Villages Without Power In Gujarat, Cyclone Heads To Rajasthan: 10 Facts

Cyclone Biparjoy is likely to weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm over Gujarat's Saurashtra and Kutch regions, and subsequently into a deep depression later this evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest bulletin.

Heavy rain coupled with strong winds by the storm brought down over 524 trees and electric poles at various places in Gujarat, snapping power supply to nearly 1,000 villages, according to state officials. A cattle-rearer and his son died while trying to save their goats stuck in Bhavnagar district, news agency PTI reported on Thursday.

After churning across the Arabian Sea for more than 10 days, Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat on Thursday evening with wind speeds ranging between 125 kmph and 140 kmph, but started losing force several hours. At 2:30 am on Friday, it was packing 100 kilometres per hour winds with gusts up to 110 km/h.

Extremely heavy rainfall is likely in Rajasthan on June 16 and 17, as the cyclone moves towards the northwest, IMD Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.

Warnings about extensive damage to temporary housing structures and falling of trees and branches due to high-speed winds, high tides and heavy rainfall have already been issued by the weather office.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and took stock of the situation after the cyclonic storm made landfall. PM Modi also asked about the details of the safety arrangements for wild animals, including lions, in Gir Forest.

The Gujarat government said 94,000 people had relocated from coastal and low-lying areas to shelter. The cyclone has also affected the trains services. Around 99 trains running through, originating or terminating in Biparjoy-affected areas of Gujarat, will remain cancelled or short-terminated, Western Railway said.

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

Fishing activities have been suspended till tomorrow, ports are shut and ships are anchored. 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.