Cyclone Biporjoy’s landfall by 10 pm today with slightly lesser wind speed than predicted before; Possible location shifts further North, between Jakhau and Lakhpat

Gandhinagar: Cyclone Biporjoy’s landfall is taking place today by around 10 pm on the North of Jakhau port, just near the India-Pakistan border near Lakhpat, said Alok Kumar Pandey, Relief Commissioner of Gujarat State.

The cyclone is moving slowly towards the Kutch coast. After moving in a North direction for days, the cyclone turned right (East-side) towards Kutch last evening. While wind speed has decreased, the cyclone will still bring in 100-125 km per hour strong wind which is dangerous, said Alok Kumar adding that direction of landfall was earlier around Mandvi beach but it has then gone North and now it will have landfall around Jakhau and Lakhpat port area. He said if it goes further North(towards Pakistan), it’s good for us.

He said over 95,000 people are evacuated from coastal areas to safer places including 10,000 women. The highest number of people are evacuated in the Kutch district.

Central government’s weather arm IMD in its bulletin today morning said: VSCS (Very Severe Cyclonic Storm) Biparjoy over Northeast Arabian Sea at 0530 hours IST of 15th June 2023 about 180km west-southwest of Jakhau Port (Gujarat). To cross Saurashtra & Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi and Karachi near Jakhau Port by the evening of 15th June as a VSCS. DeshGujarat