Roofs were blown off houses and trees and electric poles uprooted, leaving thousands without power yesterday as a severe cyclone made landfall and rain lashed the coasts of India and Pakistan.
At least two people died in India’s western state of Gujarat after being swept away by flood waters just before the cyclone hit.
More than 180,000 people were evacuated in India and Pakistan in the past few days as authorities braced for the cyclone, named Biparjoy, which means “disaster” or “calamity” in the Bengali language.
Photo: AFP
It made landfall late on Thursday near Jakhau, a port in Gujarat that is close to the border with Pakistan, weather officials said.
Biparjoy had weakened to a cyclonic storm from a severe cyclonic storm yesterday morning, the Indian Metereological Department said, adding that its speed was reducing from 105kmh to 85kmh.
Wind speeds were likely to reduce further by the afternoon, it said.
Two men died while trying to prevent their cattle from being swept away during heavy rains and floods in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district on Thursday evening, the cyclone control room said.
Power was disrupted in many places in the Kutch district of Gujarat because of strong winds, said Amit Arora, a top district official overseeing rescue operations.
In neighboring Pakistan, the cyclone had no major impact, with rain reported in some parts of the southern city of Karachi, which was on high alert.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department advised local authorities to remain on alert for heavy rain in some coastal areas until today.
Local television showed visuals of uprooted trees, people sheltering against strong winds and debris lying on roads in the aftermath of the cyclone.
The government had told all offshore oil installations to ensure the immediate return of all staff to land, and advised ports to take preventive action.
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