West coast on high alert as Cyclone Biparjoy barrels towards Gujarat

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert as Cyclone Biparjoy approaches Saurashtra and Kutch coasts. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Gusty winds blow away port Signal No. 10 hoisted by port authority in Salaya port in Devbhumi Dwarka district. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

A nomadic camel hearder seen near Naliya village walking towards Bhuj town on Wednesday ahead of landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Jakhau fishing harbour in Kutch post evacuation ahead of landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Fishing boats anchored at Salaya port in Dwarka district. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

A shepherd boy, along with his livestock, waits at Jakhau coastal village near a cyclone rescue shelter on Wednesday. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran )

Women seen carrying water cans at Jakhau coastal village near a cyclone rescue shelter on Wednesday. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah took stock of the situation by review meeting. In pic, Union Minister Mansukh Mandviya arrives at the Kandla port to take cognisance of the disaster management preparations. [Express photo by Nirmal Harindran]

Here, fishermen braced for the cyclone at Salaya port in Devbhumi Dwarka district. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

In this picture, one can see fishermen trying to move their fishing boats to safety in Dwarka of Devbhumi Dwarka district. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

A day ahead of landfall, commuters navigated through light showers in Bhuj town. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Tidal waves entered the mouth of Gomati river in Dwarka district of Gujarat on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

And as the cyclone moved closer to Devbhumi Dwarka coast in Gujarat, policemen kept vigil on the seacoast of Dwarka. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

Authorities have so far evacuated 50,000 people from vulnerable areas in a massive operation, according to officials. (Express Photo)

Meals were prepared for those evacuated from high-risk areas in Gujarat to cyclone shelters located across districts in the state. (Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Here, people evacuated from their homes are being served lunch at a cyclone shelter in Kutiyana in Porbandar district. (Express Photo)

Kutch district of Gujarat, located in a "very high risk" seismic zone, experienced a tremor of 3.5 magnitude on evening of June 14. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

In this picture, fishing boats lay in Rupen harbour near Dwarka town in Devbhumi district as Gujarat braced for a landfall of cyclone Biparjoy. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)