UPDATE - Cyclone Biparjoy leaves over 900 villages in India without electricity

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, ADDS UPDATES FROM PAKISTAN

By Shuriah Niazi / Islamuddin Sajid

NEW DELHI / ISLAMABAD (AA) - Over 900 villages are without power in India as Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in the country's western coast of Gujarat, an official said Friday.

“There is no electricity in 940 villages where electric poles have fallen,” State Relief Commissioner Alok Panday told ANI.

He denied reports of any human casualties but said 23 animals were killed and 524 trees uprooted.

Saurashtra and Kutch areas of the state witnessed heavy rainfall as the storm’s landfall started on Thursday.

According to the Met Department, the intensity of the cyclone has reduced from "very severe" to "severe" hours after making landfall in coastal areas of Gujarat.
The cyclone disrupted train services.

At least 99 trains running in the cyclone-affected areas will remain suspended, said Western Railways in a statement.

Meanwhile, authorities in the Indian state of Rajasthan have issued a red alert for some districts as it is expected to receive heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday in view of the cyclone.

India’s Meteorological Department, in its bulletin, has issued a “red alert” for Barmer and Jalore districts for Friday, and Jodhpur, Pali and Nagaur districts for Saturday. Instructions have also been given to evacuate people from low-lying waterlogged areas.

- Landfall continues in coastal areas of Pakistan

Pakistan Meteorological Department on Friday said that the storm now moved further northeastward and rains and strong winds continued in some coastal areas since Thursday.

"The associated maximum sustained surface winds are 80-100 Km/hour. Very rough sea conditions over Northeast Arabian Sea prevail with wave height 10-12 feet. The system is likely to weaken further into a Cyclonic Storm (CS) by today noon and subsequently into a Depression by today evening," said the Met Department in its latest statement.

Authorities said that heavy rains and strong winds are expected to continue till Saturday in coastal areas.

Fishermen are also advised not to venture into the open sea till the system is over by June 17.

"#CycloneBiparjoy has completed landfall in Indian Gujrat. Pakistan was prepared but largely spared the full force. Sindh’s coastal areas like Sujawal were inundated by high sea levels, but most ppl had been evacuated to safe ground," Pakistan Climate Change Minister Senator Sherry Rehman said on Twitter.

"Thank u to all partners in a stellar coordination effort for saving lives & keeping the lights on," she added.

In Pakistan, some 81,925 people have already been evacuated from the Badin, Thatta, Sujawal and Malir districts of the Sindh province and taken to shelters, according to the provincial disaster management authority.