Cyclone Biparjoy to make landfall in Gujarat today: IMD

Kutch: Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make landfall on Gujarat’s Saurashtra and Kutch regions and adjoining Pakistan coasts on today June 15, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday took a virtual review meeting with heads of various banks and insurance companies to review their preparedness to face the impact of the ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm. During the meeting, Sitharaman said that all disaster management protocols should be followed and the staff should be made aware of them.

The IMD has also issued warning of rainfall and advised fisherman not to venture to the sea of Saurashtra-Kutch regions until Friday.

According to a statement released by the Indian Navy, four ships carrying HADR bricks embarked are on standby at short notice, as cyclone “Biparjoy” approaches the coastal region of Gujarat.

In response to the IMD alert, Western Railways has decided to cancel at least 67 trains passing through the cyclone-prone areas as a precautionary measure.

Some of the cancelled trains include the Okha-Rajkot Unreserved Special, Veraval-Okha Express, Rajkot-Okha Unreserved Special, Bhavnagar Terminus-Okha Express, Ahmedabad-Veraval Express, Porbandar-Veraval Express, among others.

The Indian Coast Guard is also actively patrolling off the coast of Gujarat.

Biparjoy is currently located southwest of Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka.

It is expected to cross near the Jakhau Port on Thursday evening as a very severe cyclonic storm.