Gujarat: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the severe cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ is very likely to intensify into an extremely severe cyclonic storm in the new few hours and is expected to hit Gujarat this week.
The cyclone, named Biparjoy, is expected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 km (78-84 miles) per hour, gusting up to 150 km per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday, as per Reuters.
The IMD said the very severe cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ is very likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and move north-northeastwards gradually during the next 24 hours, before moving north-north-westward during the subsequent three days, said a report by The Indian Express.
Meanwhile, heavy rains swept through Pakistan’s northwest, causing several houses to collapse and leaving at least 25 people dead and 145 injured, news agency PTI reported.
Rains and hail hit the Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Karak districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, senior rescue officer Khateer Ahmed said, uprooting trees and knocking down electrical transmission towers.
The exact place where it will make landfall will become clearer in the coming days, senior scientist at the IMD, DS Pai told PTI.
Officials at the Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla at Gujarat’s Kutch have started shifting people from low-lying areas to temporary shelters.
Om Prakash, the Public Relations Officer of Deendayal Port Authority, in Gujarat’s Kandla said that six ships have left the port and 11 more will be departing today.
“It is very likely to move nearly northward till the 14th morning, then move north-northeastwards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) around noon of 15th June as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph,” IMD tweeted.
