Cyclone Biparjoy, which was earlier predicted to head towards the Pakistan coastline, is now likely to move towards Saurashtra and Kutch coast in Gujarat and make landfall on June 15, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Monday.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told ANI that an orange alert has been issued for all districts on June 14 and a red alert for districts in Saurashtra on June 15. An orange alert indicates very heavy rains in the range of 6 centimetres to 20 centimetres, while a red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm within 24 hours.
“A very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 125-135 kmph is likely to hit Saurashtra, Kutch and Pakistan coast by the afternoon of June 15,” Mohapatra told ANI. “...We appeal to people to stay at safe locations.”
On Monday, the department categorised Biparjoy as an “Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm”, which is the second-highest cyclone category based on strength. By the time it makes landfall on June 15, the storm will likely lose some of its strength and get downgraded to a “Very Severe Cyclonic Storm”.
Heavy rainfall warnings have been issued for Kutch, Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi districts of Gujarat by the meteorological department.
The cyclone is expected to destroy thatched houses, damage pucca houses and roads as well as standing crops, plantations and orchards, cause floodings and disrupt trains, electricity services powerlines and signalling systems in the northern and western coastal districts of Gujarat, the weather department warned.
There is also potential threat from flying objects as visibility will be severely low due to salt spray, it said.
The weather department has asked fishermen in the Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh and Morbi districts to suspend fishing activities east-central and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea till June 15, northeast Arabian Sea during June 12 to June 15.
On Sunday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the state emergency operation center to review the preparedness of coastal districts against possible cyclones.
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