After Cyclone Biparjoy lashed the Saurashtra-Kutch region of Gujarat, the storm reduced from 'very severe' to '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. Hours after Biparjoy made landfall in coastal areas of Gujarat, its intensity reduced to the 'severe' category. Biparjoy (meaning disaster or calamity in Bengali) unleashed destructive wind speeds of up to 140 kmph and incessant rains and consequently, trees and electricity poles were uprooted, while seawater entered villages located in low-lying areas.


"SCS BIPARJOY at 0530IST of today over Saurashtra & Kutch, lat 23.6N & long 69.2E, about 70km ENE of Jakhau Port (Gujarat), 50km NE of Naliya. Likely to weaken gradually into a CS over Saurashtra & Kutch around noon and subsequently into a DD around evening of 16th June," the IMD tweeted.






"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 early morning of 16th and into a depression by the same evening over south Rajasthan," the met department stated earlier.






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.


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 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed in the affected districts.


ALSO READ | Cyclone Biparjoy Leaves Over 900 Villages In Dark As Power Lines Hit, 500 Trees Uprooted In Gujarat


Cyclone Biparjoy: Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Reviews Situation, PM Modi Dials Him To Know Details


Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the situation and the rescue and relief operation at the State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar.


As per PTI, the landfall process of the 'very severe cyclonic storm' commenced at around 6:30 pm along the coast of Saurashtra-Kutch, and was completed after midnight.


The eye of the cyclone, which was churning across the Arabian Sea for more than 10 days, was located around 20 km southwest of Jakhau port, 120 km northwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, and 50 km west-southwest of Naliya.


While approaching the Gujarat coast, the cyclone moved with 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.


The state government informed that it has deployed 631 medical teams and 504 ambulances in the eight affected districts.


The state administration said that till Thursday evening, it shifted more than 94,000 persons living in the eight coastal districts to temporary shelters.


Apart from teams of NDRF and SDRF, 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.


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.


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