Biparjoy makes landfall near Gujarat's Jakhau port

Strong winds and heavy rains lashed Kutch and Saurashtra coasts as powerful cyclone Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat on Thursday evening after churning across the Arabian Sea for more than 10 days as multi-agency response teams remained on high alert for relief and rescue operations. The landfall process will be completed by midnight, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. There was no report of any loss of life so far in the state, though three persons were injured in Devbhoomi Dwarka district after a tree fell on them, a state minister said. Ahead of the landfall near Jakhau Port in Kutch district, about one lakh people in the path of Biparjoy (meaning disaster or calamity in Bengali) in coastal districts were moved to safer places.

"Dense convective clouds have entered Kutch and Devbhumi Dwarka districts and therefore, the landfall process has commenced. It will continue until midnight," IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said in New Delhi. Landfall indicates a cyclonic storm moving over land after being over water. The eye of the cyclone is around 50 km in diametre. Biparjoy is marching ahead with a speed of 13-14 kmph. Thus, it will take around five hours for the wall cloud and the eye to completely cross into the land, he said.

Destructive wind force uprooted many trees and electric poles near Jakhau and Mandvi towns of Kutch as tin sheets and plastic shades were blown away. Until 7 pm, there was no report of any loss of life, said Gujarat minister Harsh Sanghavi said. "Three persons sustained injuries in Devbhoomi Dwarka district after a tree fall and they are being treated," he said.


Officials said 18 National Disaster Response Force teams, 12 of the State Disaster Response Force and personnel of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard and Border Security Force have been deployed for relief and rescue operations.

Sea conditions are phenomenal (waves could be 10 to 14 metres high) and all activities, including oil exploration, ship movement and fishing, have been suspended. Biparjoy has become the cyclone with the longest lifespan in the Arabian Sea.

"The Army has deployed 27 relief columns in Bhuj, Jamnagar, Gandhidham, Dhrangadhra as well as forward locations at Naliya, Dwarka and Mandvi. The Air Force has kept one helicopter each on standby at Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Delhi. The Navy has positioned 10-15 teams, each consisting of five diverse and good swimmers, at Okha, Porbandar and Bakasura for rescue and relief," an official said.