Heavy rain lashed several parts of Gujarat’s Aravalli district on Tuesday as Cyclone Biparjoy, the first severe cyclone of the year, approached the coastal regions, posing a significant threat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has highlighted the “extensive damaging potential” of Biparjoy, with Gujarat’s Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, and Jamnagar expected to be the most affected areas.
The IMD has urged close monitoring of critical locations such as the Gir National Park, home to the endangered Asiatic lions, and prominent sites like the Somnath temple.
In preparation for the cyclone, a total of 18 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed across Gujarat, with a focus on Kutch, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Porbandar, Somnath, Morbi, Valsad, Junagarh, and Diu. Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held review meetings to ensure appropriate measures are in place.
During the video conference meeting, Home Minister Shah stressed the importance of promptly implementing critical directives provided by Prime Minister Modi during a review session held on June 12. The primary objective is to achieve zero casualties and mitigate potential damages. The meeting aimed to assess the preparedness for Cyclone Biparjoy and develop necessary strategies accordingly.
In a preventive measure, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) evacuated a 50-member crew from a jack-up rig in Gujarat ahead of the expected landfall of severe Cyclone Biparjoy, according to an official statement issued by the defense ministry. The evacuation was conducted swiftly and efficiently.
To ensure passenger safety and maintain smooth train operations, a total of 69 trains have been cancelled, 32 trains have been terminated at shorter distances, and 26 trains will start their journeys from shorter origins, according to Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway.
Speaking at a Press conference, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra emphasised the extensive damaging potential of Cyclone Biparjoy and the need for preparedness.
The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary actions to minimise the impact of the cyclone on the affected regions.
“We won’t be surprised if these areas record more than 25 cm of rainfall. Usually, they do not receive such intense precipitation at this time of the year. Therefore, there is a risk of flooding in the low-lying areas,” he cautioned. “Up to six-metre-high tidal waves are likely to inundate low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch coasts. We have recommended evacuation of the population in such areas and action is being taken,” Mohapatra said.
Authorities on Tuesday shifted 21,000 people from coastal areas to temporary shelters two days before Biparjoy’s expected landfall near Jakhau port in Gujarat’s Kutch district.
Biparjoy weakened from an extremely severe cyclone to a very severe cyclone on Tuesday. It is predicted to cross Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat and the adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near the Jakhau Port (Gujarat) around the evening of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-150 kmph. A landfall often carries heavy winds, lashing rains, increasing sea level that can pose a threat to people living in the neighbouring region.
“The cyclone is expected to move nearly northwards till June 14 morning, and then turn north-northeast wards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) around evening of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph,” said Mohapatra.
Wind speed in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh and Morbi on June 15 morning is expected to be around 125-135 kmph and gusting to 145 kmph later. Wind speed in remaining districts of Saurashtra Coast and North Gujarat could be around 45-55 gusting to 65 kmph.
The cyclone could lead to extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm) at isolated places in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar and Porbandar districts from June 13 to June 15. Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Sea conditions are phenomenal (waves could be 10 to 14 metres high) in the northeast and the adjoining east-central Arabian Sea. The IMD has recommended total suspension of all activities, including oil exploration, ship movement and fishing, until June 15.
The IMD warned that Cyclone Biparjoy might destroy thatched houses and cause extensive damage to kutcha houses. It might damage pucca houses, too. There could be potential threat from flying objects, bending and uprooting of power and communication poles, flooding of escape routes, disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signaling systems due to the cyclone.
There could be widespread damage to standing crops, plantations and orchards. Visibility could get impacted due to spray from salt pans that dot the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts.