Mumbai rainfall alert: Thunderstorm, lightning predicted in next 3-4 hours

Cyclone Biparjoy unleashed destructive wind speeds of up to 140 kmph and incessant rains as trees and electricity poles were uprooted, while seawater entered villages located in low-lying areas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued an orange alert for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts of Gujarat as extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy was likely to cross the Jakhau Port area by the evening of June 15. There is a strong possibility of this storm reaching Saurashtra-Kutch and the coast adjoining Pakistan as a very severe cyclonic storm on June 15, IMD official said. The effects of Biparjoy were evident as strong winds and high tidal waves were witnessed on Gujarat coast and in Mumbai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a review meeting and took stock of the preparedness over cyclone Biparjoy. Fishermen in the area have been warned to stay away from the coast for five days. The North Western Railway (NWR) has cancelled some train services as the cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ is likely to enter southwest Rajasthan on June 16, officials said on Monday. According to the Director of Information and Publication Railway Board, Delhi, “Disaster Management room has been activated and field staff has been put on alert mode. Emergency control rooms have been opened in Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Gandhidham.”

Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ is rapidly turning into a severe cyclonic storm and is likely to intensify further during the next 48 hours. | Latest News India

The very severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' intensified into an "extremely severe cyclonic storm" and is likely to cross Saurashtra-Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts around the afternoon of June 15 as a "very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS)", the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

Biparjoy, the first cyclonic storm over the Arabian Sea this year, originated over the southeast Arabian Sea on June 6 and had landfall over Saurashtra and Kutch on June 15 before weakening into a depression on June 18. The cyclonic storm had a total life of 13 days and three hours (depression to depression), more than double the average life of severe cyclonic storms of six days and three hours over the Arabian Sea, the IMD said in a report on Biparjoy.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday that very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm over the east-central Arabian Sea and is likely to cross Saurashtra-Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts on June 15.

Satellite images show how Biparjoy, the first cyclone in the Arabian Sea this year, formed and underwent rapid intensification as it made its way towards the Gujarat coast.

Several factors, including warming of the sea surface and sluggish movement of the cyclonic storm, contributed to making Cyclone Biparjoy, the longest-lived cyclone in the history of the North Indian Ocean.

The IMD on Monday issued an orange alert for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts of Gujarat, where extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is likely to cross near Jakhau Port by noon on June 15. NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed to deal with evacuation operations.