As Cyclone Biparjoy has further weakened to very severe cyclonic storm over the northeast Arabian Sea, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an Red alert as cyclone warning for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts this morning.
With Cyclone 'Biparjoy' expected to hit different parts of the country, Union and State ministers reviewed preparedness at different levels on Tuesday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed preparedness for cyclone 'Biparjoy' in the national capital on Tuesday and directed all stakeholders and officers to ensure 'zero casualties' and minimize the possible damage.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and MPs from eight likely affected districts in the state, which could be impacted by the cyclone, virtually participated in the meeting.
Cyclone Biparjoy, a "very severe cyclonic storm", is expected to cross the Gujarat coast on June 15.
The IMD has been providing regular updates about the cyclonic storm that is gushing through the Arabian Sea.
Here are the LIVE updates on Cyclone Biparjoy:
Preparations for two key G20 events on tourism next week in Goa have been made keeping in mind heavy Monsoon rains but there is "absolutely no concern" at present over any impact on the programmes due to impending cyclone Biparjoy, a top official said on Wednesday.
Biparjoy is expected to make landfall near Jakhau port in Gujarat's Kutch district on June 15, as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-150 kmph.
The fourth G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting and the G20 Ministerial Meeting are to be held in Goa from June 19-22.
With cyclone Biparjoy approaching the Gujarat coast, parts of Saurashtra-Kutch region received heavy rains accompanied by strong winds, the Met department said on Wednesday.
In the 24 hours ending Wednesday morning, 54 talukas across the districts of Saurashtra and Kutch received more than 10 mm of rainfall, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said in a release.
The rainfall was more intense in the districts of Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar and Junagadh.
Khambhaliya taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district received the highest 121 mm of rain, followed by Dwarka (92 mm) and Kalyanpur (70 mm) during this period, the SEOC said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a bulletin that the intensity of rainfall would increase as the cyclone approaches the Gujarat coast on June 15, with isolated places in the districts of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar likely to witness extremely heavy rains.
Around 4,500 people have been shifted from their homes to shelter homes as a precautionary safety measure ahead of cyclone Biparjoy reaching the coast of Gujarat, informed the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Parth Talsania.
While speaking to ANI, Mr Talsania informed, "We have shifted 4,500 people from the coastal areas to various shelter houses. Preparations to meet food and medical needs are also made at the shelter homes. We are closely monitoring the situation."
He further informed that cyclone Biparjoy has moved slightly to the west and is less likely to make landfall at the Dwarka coast. But a wind speed of around 100 to 80 kilometres is expected.
- Cyclone is now located 280 km from Jakhau Port
- It is very likely to move nearly northeastwards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by evening of 15th June as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph
- There is no change in landfall point or time
- Landfall is expected in the evening time between 4pm and 8 pm.
After Kandla Port in the state was closed ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy, hundreds of trucks have been standing still at Gandhidham, Kachchh. According to the India Meteorological Department ( IMD), Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to land on Gujarat's Saurashtra and Kutch regions and adjoining Pakistan coasts on June 15.
Bracing for the cyclone, which has intensified into a "very severe" cyclonic storm according to the IMD, 12 NDRF teams have been deployed in Gujarat.
Around 95 trains running through, originating or terminating in Biparjoy-affected areas of Gujarat, will remain cancelled or short-terminated till June 15, Western Railway said in a statement.
According to the India Meteorological Department ( IMD), Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to land on Gujarat's Saurashtra and Kutch regions and adjoining Pakistan coasts on June 15.
Earlier, on Monday, Ashok Kumar Misra, the Western Railway General Manager, said, "We are continuously monitoring cyclone 'Biparjoy'. We have established a disaster control room at our headquarters and also deployed ADRMs at Bhuj, Gandhidam, Porbandar and Okha. Today, some trains have been cancelled due to increased wind speed in Porbandar. All trains going to coastal areas in Gujarat will be cancelled from tomorrow."
- With Cyclone 'Biparjoy' expected to hit different parts of the country, Union and State ministers reviewed preparedness at different levels on Tuesday.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed preparedness for cyclone 'Biparjoy' in the national capital on Tuesday and directed all stakeholders and officers to ensure 'zero casualties' and minimize the possible damage.
- Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and MPs from eight likely affected districts in the state, which could be impacted by the cyclone, virtually participated in the meeting.
- Chairing the meeting, Mr Shah stressed the need to act swiftly on the important directions given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a review meeting chaired by him on June 12.