Live Updates: Cyclone Biparjoy to touch land between 6 – 8 pm, says Indian Coast Guard

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the powerful Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make landfall in India and Pakistan today. Powerful winds and torrential downpours were forecast to hit a 325 km stretch of coast between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan.

Latest Updates:

1. As of 5:30 pm Indian time, the storm was 80 km away from Jakhau Port and 130 km west of Dwarka. Nearly 100,000 people in Gujarat have been evacuated, including 9,000 children and 1,100 pregnant women.

2. Anticipating the situation post landfall between 6 – 8 pm, 15 ships and 7 aircraft have been kept on standby, says Inspector General AK Harbola, Commander, Indian Coast Guard, Region (North West). 3 helicopters and 4 Dornier are kept at Coast Guard Station in Daman.

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3. As the cyclone inches closer every minute, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has strongly advised media organisations to exercise abundant precaution, raising concerns over the safety and security of various personnel involved, especially of the private TV channels.

4. According to the NDRF, five teams each in the east, north and south have been kept on standby and they can be airlifted by IAF aircraft as soon as necessary. The teams are spread across Punjab, Odisha and Chennai.

5. According to the IMD data, Cyclone Biparjoy is on course to become the storm with the longest lifespan in the Arabian Sea. Indian armed forces, including the army, navy and air force were mobilised to help with relief efforts in Gujarat.

6. After ‘Tauktae’ in May 2021, it would be the second cyclone to hit the state in a couple of years. The Border Security Force (BSF) deployed along the coastline is diligently providing essential supplies while maintaining hygiene and sanitation standards, an official release said.