Cyclone Biparjoy: PM says ensure evacuation as railways activates its disaster management set-up

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said rescue teams were ensuring the safe evacuation of people living in vulnerable locations in the path of Cyclone Biparjoy, which is likely to make landfall in Gujarat's Kutch.

The prime minister chaired a high-level meeting here to review the preparedness of the Centre as well as the Gujarat government to deal with the situation arising out of the impending cyclone, which is also expected to impact Pakistan.

According to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Modi has directed senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated by the state government.

The railways have activated its disaster management set-up to minimize the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy, which is likely to make landfall in Gujarat this week, officials said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the railways have identified vulnerable sections on its network, including Bhavnagar, Mahuva, Veraval to Porbandar, Okha to Hapa, and Gandhidham area.

'Biparjoy' is likely to make landfall near the Jakhau port in the Kutch district on Thursday afternoon as a "very severe cyclonic storm" with the maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 kilometres per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.

Railway officials said the national transporter has implemented various measures to ensure the safety of its network and passengers and minimize the impact of the cyclone.