Cyclone Biparjoy turns 'extremely severe'; India's Gujarat, Maharashtra on alert, Pakistan to be worst hit

Cyclone Biparjoy, which was deemed a 'very severe' cyclonic storm, has intensifiedinto an 'extremely severe' cyclonic storm.

However, in a major respite for the populations living along the Arabian sea's coastline in the state of Gujarat, the likely extremely severe cyclonic storm may not hit the Porbandar coast as per the current forecast, according to Indian Meteorological Department.

In its latest forecast, the IMD said the cyclone will move north-northeastwards gradually during the next 24 hours, before moving north-north-westward during the subsequent three days.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall in Pakistan, near Karachi, according to the latest forecast.

"Cyclone Biparjoyand is likely to cross Saurashtra-Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts around the afternoon of June 15 as a 'very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS)'," the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

"VSCS (very severe cyclonic storm) 'Biparjoy' intensified into an ESCS (extremely severe cyclonic storm) at 5:50 am today (Sunday), about 480 km SSW of Porbandar, 530 km SSW of Dwarka and 610 km SSW of Naliya.To cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts bw Mandvi, Gujarat and Karachi, Pakistan around noon of June 15 as VSCS (very severe cyclonic storm)," the IMD said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan,Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered officials to put all emergency measures in place for Cyclone Biparjoy that is likely to cause flooding and rainstorms in low-lying areas of Karachi and Sindh province.

Pakistan's meteorological agency also issued an alert asking authorities to be prepared for Cyclone Biparjoy.

Earlier, experts had predicted that the cyclone would spare Pakistan from any devastation and would only cause strong winds accompanied by rain in the coastal areas.

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