After Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in coastal portions of the state on thursday evening, heavy rains and gusting winds with speeds of over 115-120 km per hour wreaked havoc in Gujarat’s Morbi district, breaking over 300 electric poles and causing power outages in about 45 villages. Officials with the Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) said that efforts are underway to restore power in nine of the affected villages.
“Strong winds broke electric wires and poles, causing a power outage in 45 villages of Maliya tehsil. We are restoring power in 9 villages and power has been restored in the remaining villages,” PGVCL’s executive engineer, Morbi, JC Goswami said.
As per the officials, two power stations in the Maliya Taluka of Morbi have been shut down due to the cyclonic storm. “In the coastal and desert regions, more than 300 electric poles have been damaged,” they said.
Earlier on Thursday evening, at least 22 people were injured, while electric poles and trees were uprooted as the ‘Biparjoy’ cyclone made landfall in Gujarat’s coastal areas.
In addition to this, 23 animals have also been killed and heavy rains coupled with gusty winds brought down over 524 trees and electric poles at various places in Gujarat, snapping the supply of power to around 940 villages, the officials said.
Meanwhile, the Relief Commissioner of Gujarat Alok Pandey said that there are chances of flash floods and intermittent rainfall is expected across Gujarat with heavy rainfall.
“The eye of the storm is currently near the Pakistan-Kutch border. The wind had an average speed of 78 kmph. There are chances of power outages. As per IMD’s forecast, the storm will reach southern Rajasthan tomorrow”.
“People have been alerted in the low-lying areas. There are chances of flash floods. Intermittent rainfall is expected across Gujarat with heavy rainfall near the storm epicentre,” he added.
Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on the wee hours of Friday that cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ is expected to weaken further by Friday morning and move into a ‘depression’ in the subsequent evening.
IMD officials said that the ‘severe’ cyclonic storm Biparjoy lay centred over the Saurashtra-Kutch region and is expected to move northeastwards, adding that heavy rains are expected in Rajasthan on Friday.
“The severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy lay centred over the Saurashtra-Kutch region, 30 km north of Naliya as of 0230 IST today,” IMD said in a tweet.”It is expected to move northeastwards and weaken into a Cyclonic Storm by early morning on June 16, and into a depression by the same evening over south Rajasthan,” it said.
IMD Director Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the cyclone has now moved from sea to land and is centred towards Sauarashtra-Kutch.
“Cyclone Biporjoy moved northeastwards and crossed the Saurashtra-Kutch adjoining Pakistan coast close to the Jakhau port, Gujarat. The cyclone has now moved from sea to land and is centred towards Saurashtra-Kutch,” told Mohapatra.
He added, “The intensity of the cyclone has reduced to 105-115 kmph. The category has changed from very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) to severe cyclonic storm (SCS). There may be heavy rains in Rajasthan on June 16 (Friday)”.
The intensity of Cyclone Biparjoy reduced from the ‘very severe’ to ‘severe’ category on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday after the storm made landfall in coastal areas of Gujarat.
The train services were impacted as Cyclone Biparjoy, which had been developing over the Arabian Sea for several days, made landfall in Gujarat’s coastal region. As a result, 99 trains that were passing through, originating in, or ending in Gujarat’s Biparjoy-affected areas had to be cancelled or short-terminated, according to Western Railway.
Many relief and rescue teams are on watch, according to officials, as tens of thousands of people were evacuated to safe areas in Gujarat.
The State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar hosted a review meeting on Thursday morning, which was presided over by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
The IMD issued a Red Alert for the Saurashtra and Kutch beaches earlier on Wednesday, stating that VSCS (Very Severe Cyclonic Storm) “Biparjoy” will pass over Saurashtra and Kutch and adjacent Pakistani coasts. The India Meteorological Department has already issued warnings of significant damage to temporary dwelling structures and tree and branch falls owing to high-speed winds, high tides, and heavy rains.