Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday continued assessing the impact of cyclone Biparjoy at the State Emergency Operation Center in Gandhinagar after he reviewed the rescue and relief operation after landfall the previous day. Earthmoving machines are being used to clear uprooted trees in Mandvi as rainfall continues to lash the coastal town in the Kachchh district. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are engaged in road clearance operations in Bhuj and Dwarka while roads were waterlogged in several areas due to incessant rains.
While approaching the Gujarat coast, cyclone Biparjoy moved at a speed of 13 kmph. During the landfall, the wind speed was 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph, the IMD stated. Landfall indicates a cyclonic storm moving over land after being over water.
Howling winds fell hundreds of trees, damaged communication towers, toppled electricity poles, flung solid objects, and raised dusty squalls that virtually resulted in zero visibility in some areas. Many areas were plunged into darkness due to power cuts.
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel assessed the impact of the cyclone for the second consecutive day.
Earthmoving machines are being used to clear uprooted trees in Mandvi while NDRF personnel are clearing roads in Bhuj and Dwarka.
Waterlogging in several areas due to incessant rains.
After Cyclone Biparjoy lashed the Saurashtra-Kutch region of Gujarat, the storm's intensity reduced from the 'very severe' to the 'severe' category. The cyclone has moved northeastwards and has weakened into a cyclonic storm and will become a depression by the evening over south Rajasthan, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated.
Strong winds broke electric wires and poles, causing a power outage in 45 villages of Maliya tehsil, news agency PTI reported an official as saying.
A relief and rescue operation was underway with multiple teams of the NDRF and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed in the affected districts.
Apart from teams of NDRF and SDRF, the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Border Security Force (BSF) have been included in relief and rescue operations, officials said, as per PTI.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Patel over the phone on Thursday night and enquired about the situation in the state after the landfall.
"PM Modi held a telephonic conversation with me and took all the details about the current situation of Gujarat following the landfall of cyclone Biparjoy. He also enquired about the steps taken by the government for the safety of all wild animals, including the lions of Gir Forest," the Gujarat Chief Minister tweeted in Gujarati.
PM Modi sought to know the steps taken by the state administration for the safety of wild animals, especially the lions in the Gir forest, he wrote.
Subscribe And Follow ABP Live On Telegram: https://t.me/officialabplive