Back
PremiumCyclone Biparjoy LIVE updates: 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. The Western Railway has cancelled around 95 trains running through, originating, or terminating in Biparjoy-affected areas of Gujarat. Bracing for the cyclone, which has intensified into a "very severe" cyclonic storm according to the IMD, 12 NDRF teams have been deployed in the western state. Yesterday, Union power minister R K Singh reviewed the preparation for power supply and quick restoration arrangements for coastal areas in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Check the latest updates on cyclone Biparjoy at Livemint's blog:
As cyclone 'Biparjoy' approaches the coastal region of Gujarat, four ships with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) bricks embarked are on standby at short notice, Indian Navy said in a statement.
Biparjoy is expected to make landfall near the Jakhau coast, Gujarat on the evening of June 15 and will traverse all along the Rann of Kutch up to Rajasthan.
The impact of cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' is likely to be less in the Maharashtra region, informed Mumbai India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief Sunil Kamble.
"The Cyclonic storm Biparjoy is already moving in the north direction which is away from Maharashtra so the impact will be less on the region," Kamble said
In anticipation of Cyclone Biparjoy, the residents of Rasulnagar village in Jamnagar have taken precautionary measures by installing ropes across their village. These ropes will aid in ensuring their movement amidst the anticipated strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya conducted a comprehensive review of the preparedness measures for Cyclone Biparjoy in Kutch, Gujarat. During his visit to the Bhuj Airforce Station, he assessed the level of preparedness and examined the emergency arrangements in hospitals.
Mandvi town, known for its traditional ship-building industry on the Gujarat coast, is facing concerns as the impending cyclone Biparjoy poses a significant threat. The ship-builders fear that the industry will suffer severe repercussions, as the under-construction ships along the shore cannot be easily moved to a safer location.
"It takes two years to build a ship. The construction of one ship costs us around ₹50 to 70 lakh," said Abdullah Yousuf Madhvani who oversees one such workshop. "Our fear is that the cyclone will destroy the ships which are in various stages of construction," he said
As the Biparjoy cyclone draws near, Naliya Police Sub-Inspector VR Ulva has informed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in Kachchh's Mandvi and Naliya town, anticipating its potential impact.
Churning the Arabian Sea, Cyclone Biparjoy on Wednesday was set to re-curve towards Gujarat's Kutch area and adjoining south Pakistan, slightly weakening in the process but still threatening to swamp the region with storm surges, strong winds and heavy rains.
Since its formation on June 6 in the southeast Arabian Sea, Biparjoy had maintained a northward track, gathering strength and becoming an extremely severe cyclonic storm on June 11, packing wind speed of more than 160 kmph, and then losing intensity a day later.
The Border Security Force (BSF) has prepared itself to overcome the challenges posed by cyclonic storm Biparjoy from Gujarat to Rajasthan.
Gujarat, Inspector General, Border Security Force Ravi Gandhi visited the coastal areas of Bhuj to oversee the measures being adopted to mitigate the devastating effects posed by the cyclone as well as took stock of readiness to deal with any contingency.
The cyclone is predicted to pass through all along the Indo-Pak international border.
BSF has also swiftly mobilised requisite resources for rescue operations.
As cyclone Biparjoy is set to hit Gujarat's coast in the next 24 hours, parts of the Saurashtra-Kutch region received heavy rains accompanied by strong winds.
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) on Wednesday.
Indian Coast Guard has succeeded in evacuating 50 personnel from an oil rig located 40 km off the coast of Gujarat. The 50 personnel were evacuated in two batches -24 were rescued on Wednesday and 26 on Monday.
Around 4,500 people have been shifted from their homes to shelter homes as a precautionary safety measure. Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Parth Talsania said 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.
According to the Western Railway, a total of 69 trains have been cancelled, 33 trains short-terminated and 27 trains short-originated as a precautionary measure.
According to weather officials, cyclone Biparjoy is going to cause severe damage in the coastal areas of Gujarat. Roads will be inundated, thatched houses are likely to be destroyed, and power cuts are also expected.
Biparjoy was situated about 280 km (174 miles) from Jakhau Port in Gujarat on Wednesday and was expected to make landfall around Thursday evening.
Seven people have died in India so far due to mishaps stemming from extreme weather conditions caused by the cyclone, including rough seas and wall collapses. Yesterday, in Mumbai, three of the four boys who went missing after venturing near the choppy Arabian Sea off Mumbai’s Juhu Koliwada area were found dead. One boy is still missing.
According to the senior official from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a group of five boys from the Vakola area in suburban Santacruz (East), aged between 12 and 16 years, was pulled inside the rough sea by strong currents on Monday evening when they went near the shore. One of the five boys was rescued by local fishermen, while the remaining four went missing. On Tuesday, BMC declared three boys dead and one remains missing.
Cyclone Biparjoy is inching closer to India and Pakistan. It is expected to make landfall between Mandvi in India's western state of Gujarat and Karachi in southern Pakistan by Thursday evening.
On Wednesday morning, the cyclonic storm laid lay centered about 280 km (174 miles) west-southwest of Gujarat's Jakhau Port and 340 km south-southwest of Karachi.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited the Airforce base in Bhuj and reviewed preparedness for cyclonic storm Biparjoy.
In view of cyclone 'Biparjoy' in Gujarat, Western Railway has decided to partially cancel some trains as a precautionary measure. Refunds will be admissible as per extant rules. As per a local Gujarati newspaper, three more trains have been cancelled today. Overall 69 trains have been cancelled, 32 trains short terminated and 26 trains short originated due to cyclone Biparjoy.
Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra prayed for those affected by cyclone Biparjoy.
Taking to Twitter, Mahindra wrote, "Prayers, this morning, for all those affected by Cyclone Biporjoy ‘s landfall".
As Cyclone Biparjoy barrels towards Gujarat, a team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) geared up in Naliya region. As many as 12 SDRF are on standby in the districts of Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Morbi and Valsad.
The Gujarat government has evacuated 37,794 people living along the coastline so far.
The cyclone has “extensive damaging potential" and is likely to impact Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts the most, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Severe cyclonic story Biparjoy may cause intense rainfall with a wind speed of 120 km/hour. It is expected to make landfall in India and Pakistan's coasts on Thursday, 15 June.
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel held a review meeting at State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar on Wednesday over preparedness for cyclone Biparjoy.
Cyclone Biparjoy: Cyclone Biparjoy is yet to make landfall in India but strong winds and high tide are seen at Gujarat's Mandvi beach.
The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday sounded a Red alert as cyclone 'Biparjoy' warning for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts in Gujarat.
In a tweet, IMD wrote, "Cyclone Warning for Saurashtra and Kutch Coasts: RED MESSAGE. VSCS BIPARJOY at 0530IST of today over NE Arabian Sea near lat 21.9N and long 66.3E, about 280km WSW of Jakhau Port (Gujarat), 290km WSW of Devbhumi Dwarka".
Balochistan's government has declared a state of emergency in the province's coastal areas as Cyclone Biparjoy continues to brew in the Arabian Sea. Section 144 has been issued in the coastal belt and all departments and law enforcement organisations have been placed on high alert to deal with the crisis.
Notably, Cyclone Biparjoy now lay at a distance of about 380 kilometres south of Karachi, Pakistan.
The Gujarat government has identified more than 400 shelter homes in Dwarka and has shifted people to shelter homes. "More than 400 shelter homes have been identified in the Dwarka district and people are being shifted to shelter homes. PM took stock of the arrangements from concerned officials and ministers and directed them to be on alert mode and take all necessary steps," said Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Union Minister Parshottam Rupala.
The IMD has sounded a storm surge warning for coastal areas of Gujarat. The weather department said the storm is likely to inundate the low-lying areas of Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, and Morbi districts. Besides, it might cause massive devastation. IMD said the cyclone might destroy thatched houses in Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Morbi, Junagarh, and Rajkot districts. Cyclone Biparjoy can also uproot communication towers and trees and disrupt railway lines, experts warn.
A relay tower that was declared unsafe has been demolished in Rajkot because of cyclone Biparjoy's warning. A new tower will be constructed in the future, said Akashvani's official.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), cyclone Biparjoy was over the northeastern part of the Arabian Sea at 5:30 AM on Wednesday. It will cross Gujarat's Jakhau Port by the evening of 15 June, Thursday.
Cyclone Biparjoy now lay at a distance of about 380 kilometres south of Karachi, Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Met Department, a thunderstorm ain with few heavy falls along with squally winds of 60-80 Km/hour is likely to hit Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Sanghar districts from June 14 -16.
Ahead of cyclone Biparjoy's entry to India, several parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai and its adjoining areas, witnessed moderate to light rainfall. High tidal waves were also seen at the Marine Drive area in Mumbai on Wednesday.
In view of cyclone Biparjoy, Gujarat coastal districts may experience heavy rainfall activity till 16 June. And, as per the IMD forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall might also happen over northeast, east, and south India during the next few days.
As cyclone Biparjoy is set to make landfall at Guajarat's coasts, visuals appeared of high tide waves on Wednesday.
Union Power Minister R K Singh held a meeting with senior officers of the Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority, Grid Controller of India and Power Grid Corporation of India, PGCIL, for reviewing the preparations for maintenance of power supply in coastal areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan which are likely to be affected by cyclone ‘Biparjoy'.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cyclone Biparjoy is likely to cross Saurashtra, Kutch, and adjoining the Pakistan coast between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) around the evening on Thursday, with winds of 125-135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph.
The Gujarat government commandeered boats and ships and evacuated 37,794 people to safety in view of cyclonic storm Biparjoy.
Four persons died in the state in three separate incidents in the past 24 hours because of pre-cyclonic rains and strong winds.
Download the App to get 14 days of unlimited access to Mint Premium absolutely free!
