About 1 lakh evacuated from Gujarat

Authorities have evacuated about 1 lakh people in Gujarat in the wake of the cyclone as fishing boats have been anchored, large ships sent to high seas, more than 4,000 hoardings taken down and salt pan workers and pregnant women have been taken to safer places. The state government has also issued prohibitory orders, shut down public transport and advised people to remain indoors. [caption id="attachment_8665177" align="alignnone" width="600"] Indian Army jawans remove fallen trees in Devbhumi Dwarka. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)[/caption]

Trees, electricity poles uprooted along Gujarat coast

At least three people were injured in incidents of treefall in Gujarat's Devbhoomi Dwarka district as cyclone Biparjoy made landfall with destructive wind speed and incessant rains on Kutch coast on Thursday evening, news agency PTI reported

Train, flight cancellations

69 trains have been cancelled, 33 trains have been short-terminated, while 27 trains short-originated as a precautionary measure, in view of safety of passengers in view of the cyclone, said CPRO Western Railway. Meanwhile, commercial flight operations at Gujarat's Jamnagar airport will remain suspended till Friday. According to the Jamnagar airport director, the airport has issued a NOTAM for three days -- Wednesday-Friday. Diesel and petrol required to operate the airport in an emergency have also been stored.

Coastal regions of Pakistan on alert

The coastal regions of Pakistan were on high alert with over 67,000 people being evacuated to safer places in the southern Sindh province ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy's expected landfall today, which is likely to bring heavy rain and cause flooding in several cities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is supporting the government of Pakistan's efforts to prepare for and respond to the public health impact of the cyclone.

NDRF, SDRF teams on standby for rescue ops

Officials said 15 NDRF teams, 12 teams 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.

Advisory for media houses covering Cyclone Biparjoy

The information and broadcasting ministry asked media organisations, including television channels, to take "abundant precaution" while deploying their personnel to cover Cyclone Biparjoy to ensure their safety. "Given the possible impact of the cyclone, reporting from the ground level may pose serious risks of safety and security of the reporters and the cameramen and other personnel deployed by the private satellite TV channels for reporting this incident," it said.

Navy, Coast Guard on the ready

Inspector General AK Harbola, Commander, Indian Coast Guard, Region (North West) said, “Anticipating the situation post that, we have kept around 15 ships and 7 aircraft on standby. We have also kept 4 special Dornier and 3 helicopters at Coast Guard Station in Daman.” Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Kunal Rajkumar, Chief Staff Officer, OPS, Western Naval command, said naval stations in the Gujarat area are ready with over 25 specialist teams. "These teams comprise diverse medical specialists, good swimmers along with equipment like portable chain sets, cutting tools that are very useful in removal of debris and fallen trees.”

Heavy rainfall likely over Saurashtra, north Gujarat region

While the areas of Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka & Jamnagar will witness light to moderate rainfall, very heavy showers are expected in Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh districts of Gujarat. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely over remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat region, IMD said in its latest bulletin.

HAM radio units deployed if other communications fail

Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority allotted six HAM radio units, two of them in Kutch, for communication should conventional communication lines like mobile phones, internet, telephones etc. fail under the impact of the cyclone. [caption id="attachment_8665206" align="alignnone" width="600"] District control centre at Bhuj, Kutch. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran[/caption]

Banaskantha, Patan likely to receive heavy rains

A day after the cyclone makes landfall in Kutch, the nearby districts like Banaskantha and Patan of northern Gujarat are also likely to receive heavy rain. As a result, the authorities in these districts have also been ordered to take all precautionary steps.

Cyclone Biparjoy’s landfall commences: What we know so far in 10 points

Cyclone Biparjoy has started making landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat’s Kutch district after churning across the Arabian Sea for over 10 days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Thursday evening. The landfall process will be completed by midnight.

After weakening into a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ from an ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’, Biparjoy brought winds of up to the speed of 145 kmph and heavy rains to the Kutch and Saurashtra coasts as agencies remained on high alert. The cyclone will be crossing adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port by tonight.

01
About 1 lakh evacuated from Gujarat
Authorities have evacuated about 1 lakh people in Gujarat in the wake of the cyclone as fishing boats have been anchored, large ships sent to high seas, more than 4,000 hoardings taken down and salt pan workers and pregnant women have been taken to safer places. The state government has also issued prohibitory orders, shut down public transport and advised people to remain indoors.

Indian Army jawans remove fallen trees in Devbhumi Dwarka. (Express photo by Bhupendra Rana)
02
Trees, electricity poles uprooted along Gujarat coast
At least three people were injured in incidents of treefall in Gujarat's Devbhoomi Dwarka district as cyclone Biparjoy made landfall with destructive wind speed and incessant rains on Kutch coast on Thursday evening, news agency PTI reported
03
Train, flight cancellations
69 trains have been cancelled, 33 trains have been short-terminated, while 27 trains short-originated as a precautionary measure, in view of safety of passengers in view of the cyclone, said CPRO Western Railway. Meanwhile, commercial flight operations at Gujarat's Jamnagar airport will remain suspended till Friday. According to the Jamnagar airport director, the airport has issued a NOTAM for three days -- Wednesday-Friday. Diesel and petrol required to operate the airport in an emergency have also been stored.
04
Coastal regions of Pakistan on alert
The coastal regions of Pakistan were on high alert with over 67,000 people being evacuated to safer places in the southern Sindh province ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy's expected landfall today, which is likely to bring heavy rain and cause flooding in several cities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is supporting the government of Pakistan's efforts to prepare for and respond to the public health impact of the cyclone.
05
NDRF, SDRF teams on standby for rescue ops
Officials said 15 NDRF teams, 12 teams 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.
06
Advisory for media houses covering Cyclone Biparjoy
The information and broadcasting ministry asked media organisations, including television channels, to take "abundant precaution" while deploying their personnel to cover Cyclone Biparjoy to ensure their safety. "Given the possible impact of the cyclone, reporting from the ground level may pose serious risks of safety and security of the reporters and the cameramen and other personnel deployed by the private satellite TV channels for reporting this incident," it said.
07
Navy, Coast Guard on the ready
Inspector General AK Harbola, Commander, Indian Coast Guard, Region (North West) said, “Anticipating the situation post that, we have kept around 15 ships and 7 aircraft on standby. We have also kept 4 special Dornier and 3 helicopters at Coast Guard Station in Daman.” Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Kunal Rajkumar, Chief Staff Officer, OPS, Western Naval command, said naval stations in the Gujarat area are ready with over 25 specialist teams. "These teams comprise diverse medical specialists, good swimmers along with equipment like portable chain sets, cutting tools that are very useful in removal of debris and fallen trees.”
08
Heavy rainfall likely over Saurashtra, north Gujarat region
While the areas of Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka & Jamnagar will witness light to moderate rainfall, very heavy showers are expected in Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh districts of Gujarat. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely over remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat region, IMD said in its latest bulletin.
09
HAM radio units deployed if other communications fail
Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority allotted six HAM radio units, two of them in Kutch, for communication should conventional communication lines like mobile phones, internet, telephones etc. fail under the impact of the cyclone.

District control centre at Bhuj, Kutch. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran
10
Banaskantha, Patan likely to receive heavy rains
A day after the cyclone makes landfall in Kutch, the nearby districts like Banaskantha and Patan of northern Gujarat are also likely to receive heavy rain. As a result, the authorities in these districts have also been ordered to take all precautionary steps.