Gujarat Beach Closed Till June 14 As Cyclonic Storm 'Biparjoy' Likely To Intensify In Next 24 Hours

IMD has said that 'very severe' cyclonic storm Biparjoy is likely to intensify further in the next twenty-four hours.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said that the 'very severe' cyclonic storm Biparjoy is expected to intensify further in the next twenty-four hours and will move north-northeastwards. This comes after cyclone Biparjoy intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm two days back and was predicted to intensify further. In a tweet, the weatherman said, "Very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy at 2330 hrs IST of 9th June over east-central Arabian Sea near lat 16.0N & long 67.4E. Likely to intensify further & move north-northeastwards during the next 24hrs."

Furthermore, as per ANI, due to the approaching cyclone Biparjoy, high waves have been observed at Tithal Beach in Gujarat’s Valsad on the Arabian Sea coast. The agency reported that as a precautionary measure, Tithal Beach has been closed to tourists until June 14. 

"We told the fishermen not to venture into the sea and they all have come back. People will be shifted to the village at the seashore if needed. Shelters have been made for them. We have closed Tithal Beach for tourists till June 14," Tehsildar TC Patel, Valsad, as quoted by ANI. 

"It may reach South Gujarat on Sunday or Monday. Presently, we are on alert mode and all officials were advised not to leave the headquarter. The SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams have been kept on standby mode while people of the coastal village had been alerted. If needed, they were told, they will have to be shifted to safer places," Surat's Collector BK Vasava told Indian Express.

Gujarat fishermen have been asked to return to the coast from deep sea areas and ports instructed to hoist Distant Warning signal (DW II), said news agency PTI reported officials as saying on Thursday. Fishermen have been asked to return to shore as wind speed may reach up to 160 km per hour in the sea on June 11 and 12.

Due to the cyclone, the wind speed may go up to 45 to 55 knots on June 10, 11, and 12. The speed may also touch the 65-knot mark. The cyclone would bring light rains and thunderstorms in coastal regions, including Gujarat's south Gujarat and Saurashtra.

All ports have been asked to hoist Distant Warning signal, said the Director of IMD's Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad, Manorama Mohanty, as per PTI.

As per international procedure, ports have been advised to hoist signals whenever adverse weather is expected over them in oceanic areas to alert vessels and ensure the safety of maritime activities.

District collectors of the coastal region are geared up to face any eventuality in the coming days. Jamnagar collector BA Shah told PTI that nearly 76,000 people reside in 22 villages situated on the coastline of the district and elaborate plans are in place to shift them to safer places if need arises. All district, as well as taluka officials, have been asked to remain stationed at their headquarters until further orders.

Earlier, with Cyclone Biparjoy forecast to be intensified in the next 36 hours, the weather department advised fishermen not to venture into the seas off the coast of Kerala, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep. 

Meanwhile, a yellow alert was issued in several districts of Kerala on Friday including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode, and Kannur, reported ANI.