Cyclone Biparjoy Reaches Rajasthan; Heavy Rains With Gusty Winds Lash Barmer, Sirohi; Alert Issued

Cyclone Biparjoy has reached Rajasthan on Friday after Gujarat. There is red alert in Barmer and Jalore today and it is raining with strong winds. Jalore has recorded 69MM of rain till Friday morning. Thunderstorms are continuing in Jaisalmer as well. Trees and poles have fallen due to strong winds in Barmer and Sirohi.

Initially, the rain activities will be over Southwest Rajasthan. Places like Jalore, Sirohi, and Barmer will get moderate to heavy rain. As the depression will move towards northeast rain activities will cover many other districts of Rajasthan such as Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Pali, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Tonk, Nagaur, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur, Dausa, Karauli, Bharatpur and Alwar .

Red and orange alert in these dists 

Due to the storm, red alert has been issued for very heavy rain in 5 districts of Rajasthan for Friday and Saturday, while orange alert has been issued for heavy rain in 13 districts. The Meteorological Department estimates that 200 MM i.e. 8 inches or more of rain may occur in Rajasthan during 24 hours. According to the Meteorological Department, the storm will be active in Rajasthan on June 16, 17 and 18.

5000 people shifted to safer places

Barmer Collector Arun Purohit said that the next 36 hours are crucial for the district. Five thousand people of Bakhasar, Sedwa Chauhtan, Ramsar, Dhorimna villages adjacent to the Pakistan border have been shifted to safer places. 

Besides, as many as 450 people belonging to 100 families have been shifted from Dabla village of Jaisalmer. NREGA works and dearness relief camps have been suspended.

Exams postponed, educational institutions shut in Jodhpur

According to the Meteorological Department, there is the highest risk of storm in the western and central parts of Rajasthan. Jodhpur University has postponed all examinations to be held on June 16 and 17 in the cyclone-affected areas. State Open exams to be held from June 17 to 19 have also been postponed. Railways have decided not to run the passenger train running between Barmer-Jodhpur for two days.

Jodhpur Collector and Disaster Management Authority Chairman Himanshu Gupta has instructed to keep all educational institutions, coaching, gyms, tourist places and summer camps of Jodhpur closed on 16 and 17. He told that due to Biparjoy, there is an alert of extremely heavy rain with strong thunderstorms.

Moderate to heavy rain in Gujarat

Meanwhile, in Gujarat most parts of Saurashtra and Kutch have received moderate to heavy rain. Northern districts of Gujarat may continue with moderate showers till the morning of June 17. The weather will start clearing up thereafter.