The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday (10) said that 'Bijarpjoy', a "very severe" cyclone, is expected to intensify further in the next 24 hours and will move in the north-northeast direction.
The storm, which is currently located about 700 kilometres (km) west of the western coastal state of Goa and about 650 kilometres west-southwest of the western city of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, is packing winds of up to 145 km per hour, NDTV reported.
According to the IMD, the storm could cause heavy rain and strong winds in the coastal areas of the states of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.
"Very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy at 2330 hrs IST of 9th June over east-central Arabian Sea near lat 16.0N & long 67.4E. Likely to intensify further & move north-northeastwards during the next 24hrs," IMD said in a tweet.
In another tweet, it said, "VSCS “Biparjoy” over eastcentral Arabian Sea, lay centered at 0530hrs IST of 10th June, near lat 16.5N & long 67.4E, likely to intensify further & move north-northeastwards during next 24 hours."
While fishermen on the western coasts have been warned against venturing out into the sea, the popular Tithal Beach in the western state of Gujarat on the Arabian Sea has been closed for tourists till June 14 due to high waves and strong winds.
"We told the fishermen not to venture into the sea and they all have come back. People will be shifted to the village at the seashore if needed. Shelters have been made for them. We have closed Tithal Beach for tourists till June 14," Valsad tehsildar TC Patel was quoted as saying by the Asian News International.
Fishermen in states such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep were advised against venturing into the seas. A yellow alert was also issued for eight districts in Kerala on Friday (9).
"It may reach South Gujarat on Sunday or Monday (12). Presently, we are on alert mode and all officials were advised not to leave the headquarters. The SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams have been kept on standby mode while people of the coastal village had been alerted. If needed, they were told, they will have to be shifted to safer places," Surat's collector BK Vasava told Indian Express.
"Due to the cyclone, the wind speed may go up to 45 to 55 knots on June 10,11 and 12. The speed may also touch the 65-knot mark. The cyclone would bring light rains and thunderstorms in coastal regions, including south Gujarat and Saurashtra. All ports have been asked to hoist Distant Warning signal," Manorama Mohanty, director of IMD's Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, told ANI.
The cyclone has been named 'Biparjoy' by Bangladesh and it means 'disaster' in Bengali.
The World Meteorological Organisation adopted the name three years ago for all tropical cyclones that form over the North Indian Ocean, including the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
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