Cyclone Biparjoy updates: Storm loses speed, passes Gujarat

This blog is now closed. Thank you for joining us. These were the updates on Cyclone Biparjoy on Thursday, June 15.

This blog is now closed. Thank you for joining us. These were the updates on Cyclone Biparjoy on Thursday, June 15.

• Officials in Gujarat say the cyclone has lost its speed and is now passing over to Rajasthan, where heavy rainfall and flash floods are expected.
• India’s Meteorological Department says Biparjoy has made landfall near the southwestern port town of Jakhau, in the state of Gujarat.
• Howling gales and crashing waves pounded the coastline of India and Pakistan, hours before powerful Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall.
• The storm, classified as a very severe cyclone, was expected to hit the area between Keti Bandar port in Sindh province’s Thatta district in southern Pakistan and Kutch district in western India’s Gujarat state.
• Tens of thousands of people in both countries have been moved to safer areas as heavy rains pound the region.
• Authorities on Thursday said the storm had lost some of its intensity and was expected to have a maximum sustained wind speed of between 115kph and 125kph (71mph to 78mph).