Gujarat Braces For Cyclone Biparjoy, Landfall Today; Power, Railways To Be disrupted

As cyclone 'Biparjoy' likely to make landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat's Kutch district on Thursday evening, the coastal areas of the state are preparing for significant rainfall and increasingly strong winds, reaching speeds of 120-130 kmph with gusts up to 145 kmph.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts, as the extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is likely to cause destruction to infrastructure, including roads, crops, houses, and railways. Power and communication lines may also be affected, with the potential for damage to utility poles.

The state administration has shifted more than 74,000 people living near the coast as a precaution and deployed disaster management units for rescue and relief measures, said officials on Wednesday.

With the cyclone in the Arabian Sea barrelling towards the Gujarat coast, parts of the Saurashtra-Kutch region received heavy rains accompanied by strong winds, the Met department said.

This will be the second cyclone to hit the state in two years after 'Tauktae' in May 2021.

Of the total 74,345 people moved to temporary shelters in eight coastal districts, nearly 34,300 were evacuated in Kutch district alone, followed by 10,000 in Jamnagar, 9,243 in Morbi, 6,089 in Rajkot, 5,035 in Devbhumi Dwarka, 4,604 in Junagadh, 3,469 in Porbandar district and 1,605 in Gir Somnath district, said a release by the Gujarat government.

Meanwhile, two most famous temples of Gujarat -- Dwarkadhish Temple in Devbhumi Dwarka and Somnath Temple in Gir Somnath district -- will remain closed on Thursday for devotees, said another release.

The Western Railway (WR) on Wednesday decided to cancel or short- terminate the operation of a few more trains as a precaution in view of the powerful cyclone 'Biparjoy' which is expected to make landfall in adjoining Gujarat on Thursday evening.

In a release, the WR said seven more trains have been cancelled, three short-terminated and four other services short-originated in view of safety of passengers and train operations as the cyclone approaches the Gujarat coast.

The release said so far 76 trains have been cancelled, 36 short-terminated and 31 short-originated.

In addition, various safety and security precautions are being taken by the WR for train passengers in areas under its jurisdiction, according to the release. Affected passengers will get a refund of fares as per rules, it added.