Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the collective effort of Gujarat government and Central agencies worked together to protect lives during the recent cyclone Biparjoy. He conducted an aerial survey of areas affected by the storm in Gujarat's Kutch district.
"Not even a single casualty was reported because of Cyclone Biparjoy. The way the Gujarat government and Central agencies have worked to protect lives during the cyclone is a classic example of teamwork," he said, while addressing a press conference.
The home minister also met people at the relief camps in Jakhau, Kutch which bore the brunt of the powerful cyclone on Thursday night. He was accompanied by Gujarat chief minister Bhupendera Patel.
He met personnel of the National Disaster Response Force and the Border Security Force at Mandvi airport who were involved in the relief and rescue operations.
"Power has been restored in 1,600 villages out of the 3,400 villages where the power supply was cut. Around 1.08 lakh civilians were taken to safe places due to the Cyclone. Around 73,000 animals were taken to safe spots," he further said. Electricity will be restored in entire cyclone-affected area by June 20, he added.
Cyclone Biparjoy wreaked havoc through Kutch and parts of Saurashtra region of Gujarat as it made landfall near Jakhau Port from 6.30 pm on Thursday and the process continued till 2.30 am.
The PTI reported that the storm damaged 5,120 electricity poles and left 4,600 villages without power.
