Cyclone Biparjoy (a Bengali word meaning "disaster" or "calamity") has left a trail of destruction in its wake as the severe cyclonic storm and heavy rains caused utter disruption of normal life in the Kutch district of India's Gujarat state.
Strong winds caused extensive damage in the state, uprooting 524 trees and toppling electric poles leading to power cuts in almost 940 villages. The low-lying areas, near the sea, were all flooded.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team rescued two stranded people from the low-lying areas of Rupen Bandar in the Dwarka district after cyclone Biparjoy made landfall along the Gujarat coast on Thursday.
The Mandvi town experienced a complete blackout, and the Jakhau-Mandvi Road was littered by trees uprooted by the strong winds.
As many as 94,000 people have been relocated from coastal and low-lying areas to shelter.
The cyclone has also affected the train services originating or terminating in Biparjoy-affected areas of Gujarat.
At least 23 people were injured, and 24 animals died because of the cyclone. Two people reportedly lost their life before the cyclone made landfall.
In view of the cyclone's landfall, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assessed the situation. He also asked Gujarat's State Chief Bhupendra Patel what safety measures had been implemented for the wildlife, particularly the lions in Gir National Park.