Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla conducted a review on Sunday of the preparedness of various central government departments and the Gujarat administration to tackle the approaching Cyclone Biparjoy.
The cyclone has intensified into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm” and is expected to make landfall between the Kutch district of Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan on June 15. The Union Home Secretary chaired a meeting of the National Executive Committee to assess the preparedness of central ministries, agencies, and the Gujarat government in dealing with the imminent cyclone, as reported by a ministry spokesperson.
Under the Disaster Management Act, the National Executive Committee is responsible for implementing disaster management policies and plans in the country.
Adequate teams and assets from the National Disaster Response Force, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are being deployed to assist the Gujarat government in preparedness, rescue, and restoration efforts.
The Gujarat government has taken all necessary precautions to handle Cyclone Biparjoy and is fully prepared for post-cyclone restoration of services, the spokesperson stated.
The Chief Secretary of Gujarat and senior officials from central ministries and agencies, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), attended the meeting.
According to the IMD, the “extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy” is expected to cross the Saurashtra-Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan around noon on June 15, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph.
The Gujarat government is deploying NDRF and SDRF teams in coastal areas and will establish shelters in six districts as the extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is projected to make landfall between the Kutch district and Pakistan’s Karachi on June 15.
The precise location of the cyclone’s landfall will become clearer in the coming days. Kutch, Jamnagar, Morbi, Gir Somnath, Porbandar, and Devbhumi Dwarka districts are expected to be affected by heavy rainfall and very high wind speeds during June 13-15, which could reach up to 150 kmph, according to an official.