Cyclone Biparjoy: IMD issues heavy rainfall warning for multiple states; Rajasthan records heavy rains

Cyclone Biparjoy: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday that the cyclone Biparjoy is very likely to continue to move east-northeastwards and maintain the intensity of depression during the next 12 hours. The IMD also issued warning of heavy rainfall over south Rajasthan, north Gujarat, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, south interior Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim, while light to moderate rainfall is predicted over Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

"Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely over south Rajasthan and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over adjoining north Gujarat region and Kutch. Light/moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely over Northeast India and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next five days. Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely over Meghalaya during June 17-19 ," the IMD said in a statement on Saturday.

The IMD further predicted that light isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorm and lightning is very likely over Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha over the next three days, followed by fairly widespread rainfall.

"Light/moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm and lightning is also very likely in isolated places over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the next four days, and isolated to scattered rainfall over plains of Northwest India during the next three days," it said.

"Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over southwest Rajasthan from June 17-18, southeast Rajasthan from June 17-19, northwest Madhya Pradesh from June 19-21," it said.

The IMD also predicted that light/moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm and lightning is very likely over South India during the next five days.

"Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu during June 17-19, Kerala during June 18-21, and south interior Karnataka during June 19-21. No significant weather change is likely over rest parts of the country during the next five days," the IMD predicted.

Amit Shah lauds Gujarat govt

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that it was a major achievement of the Gujarat government that nobody died on account of cyclone Biparjoy which made landfall on the Kutch coast with a wind speed of 140 kmph.

"Electricity will be restored in the affected areas by June 20," he said during a visit to Bhuj, the headquarters of Kutch district.

"The state government will soon carry out a survey of damage to crops, horticulture and boats and announce a relief package," he told reporters.

"The state and Union governments worked together successfully to face the cyclone," Shah said.

"Not only human deaths were avoided but the number of injured persons was just 47 while only 234 cattle died," he added.

Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau on Thursday evening, leaving a trail of destruction in Kutch and Saurashtra regions.

Heavy rainfall in Rajasthan 

Several places in Rajasthan received heavy rainfall on Saturday due to Cyclone 'Biparjoy', which moved further towards the desert state following its landfall in Gujarat, officials said.

Sirohi received a rainfall of 37.5 mm till 5.30 pm, Jalore 36 mm, Barmer 33.6, Bikaner 26.6 mm, Dabok 13 mm, Dungarpur 12.5 mm and 10.5 mm in Jodhpur.

The MeT department has issued a 'Red Alert' in the Barmer, Jalore and Sirohi districts, where moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to continue for 3 to 4 hours.

'Orange Alert' has been issued for Pali and Jodhpur.

Meanwhile, the weather office issued a 'Yellow Alert' for Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Churu, Sikar, Nagaur, Jhunjhunu, Ajmer, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Jaipur, Jaipur City, Dausa, Alwar, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Bundi and Kota.

In the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am on Saturday, a rainfall of 210 mm was recorded in Mount Abu, 136 mm in Barmer's Sedwa, 135 mm in Mount Abu tehsil, 110 mm in Raniwada of Jalore, 76 mm in Churu's Bidasaria, 68 mm in Reodar, 59 mm in Sanchor, 57 mm in Pindwara, 49 mm each in Gogunda and Girva, 47 mm in Jalore, 46 mm each in Sindri and Jaswantpura of Jalore and 40 mm in Jhadol.

"Abu Road recorded a rainfall of 38 mm, Kotda 35 mm, Sirohi 30 mm, Kumbhalgarh 26 mm and 25.7 mm in Udaipur during this period," the MeT said.

"Many other places in the state recorded rainfall ranging from 1 mm to 22 mm during the period due to the effects of the cyclone," the officials said.

"The cyclone is in the form of 'deep depression' in Rajasthan and will further reduce to the 'depression' category," according to an official.

"The rainfall activity in parts of the state will continue till Monday," he added.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature in the state was recorded between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.

On Saturday, Dholpur was the hottest in the state with a maximum temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius, followed by 40.2 degrees Celsius in Sriganganagar.

Meanwhile, PC Kishan, the secretary of the Disaster Management and Relief Department, said that in view of the 'Red Alert', inflation relief camps have been suspended in the concerned districts for the time being.

Rail traffic has also been affected in the North Western Railway (NWR) zone due to Cyclone Biparjoy.

The NWR on Saturday cancelled 13 trains, including the Amritsar-Gandhidham Express train service, Jodhpur-Bhildi Express train service, Valsad-Bhildi Express train service, Jodhpur-Palanpur Express, Jodhpur-Palanpur Express, Barmer-Munabav Express, Munabao-Barmer Express.

(With inputs from PTI)