Cyclone Biparjoy: drone visuals of abandoned beach in Gujarat's Kutch

A beach town in Gujarat's Kutch district lay abandoned with a high alert being issued over Cyclone Biparjoy.

Visuals from Mandvi town showed huge waves lashing the beach as shacks and food stalls remained deserted.

Torn and tattered cloth or plastic sheets used to cover makeshift structures could be seen fluttering as strong winds blew over the area.

The cyclone is likely to hit the shore near Jakhau port between Mandvi in Kutch and Karachi in Pakistan with sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph on Thursday evening (June 15).

The met department has predicted extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds in coastal parts of the Saurashtra-Kutch region, especially in the districts of Kutch, Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka.

After it makes landfall and weakens, Biparjoy is likely to remain north-eastward and is expected to move towards extreme south Rajasthan. It is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rain in north Gujarat between June 15-17.

Fishing activities have been suspended till June 16, ports are shut and ships are anchored as the sea turned turbulent and weather became inclement with extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds in the region due to the approaching cyclone.

(with PTI inputs)