'Cyclone Biparjoy': Six houses collapse in Gujarat; people rescued safely

The Gir Somnath district administration has said that if needed it is ready to shift around 1,500-2,000 people from the coastal village of Madhwad.

Gir Somnath (Gujarat): The effects of 'Cyclone Biparjoy' can be seen. At least six houses collapsed in the Madhwad village of Gujarat on Monday night due to rising sea waves, officials said on Tuesday. Following this, all the people staying inside the houses were safely rescued and given temporary shelter in a village temple, a primary school, and a community centre.

Upon receiving the information, Kodinar tehsil's development officer YM Rawal reached the village in the Gir Somnath district. He said that the six houses located in the village collapsed due to the high sea waves. The officer also said that there are still over 100 houses in the coastal areas. "Currently, only those people, who have been homeless have been shifted. However, in case the need arises, the district administration is ready to shift around 1,500 to 2,000 people, who reside in the village," added Rawal.

The Madhwad village is a village of the fishermen community in the Kodinar tehsil. As the village is located right on the coast, seawater enters people's houses here even during the monsoon season. The villagers have been demanding that they should be relocated to safer places, but their repeated pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that 'Cyclone Biparjoy' may cause extensive damage. The weather body also predicted that Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, and the Jamnagar districts in Gujarat are likely to be most impacted by Cyclone Biparjoy. The weather office had said Biparjoy which was categorised as an ESCS (extremely severe cyclonic storm) has weakened into a VSCS (very severe cyclonic storm). The cyclone is expected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch near the Jakhau Port by the evening of June 15, as a VSCS.