Red alert sounded in Gujarat as rough ocean and high wind speeds expected to create havoc in the Kutch region
The cyclone is likely to trigger wind speeds of up to 135 km per hour
The atmospheric environment was favorable for cyclone development due to the presence of a strong upper-level ridge over the central Arabian Sea.
Biparjoy is expected to make landfall near the Jakhau port in the Kutch district of Gujarat on Thursday evening.
A total of 33 teams have been earmarked by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to undertake relief and rescue operations in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
More than 74,000 people have been evacuated and shifted to safer locations
The cyclonic storm had winds of 130-145 kmph gusting up to 155 kmph. It was 220 kilometers west-southwest of Gujarat's Jakhau Port at 8.30 p.m., moving east-northeast at a speed of 6 km/hr.