Authorities in Gujarat have taken precautionary measures ahead of the expected landfall of the powerful cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ near Jakhau port in the Kutch district. As a result, they have successfully relocated 50,000 individuals from coastal areas to temporary shelters. The cyclone, categorized as a “very severe cyclonic storm,” is forecasted to make landfall on Thursday evening, accompanied by maximum wind speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Heavy Rains and Strong Winds in Saurashtra-Kutch Region
The approaching cyclone has already resulted in heavy rainfall and strong winds in parts of the Saurashtra-Kutch region, as reported by the Meteorological Department. Khambhaliya taluka in Devbhumi Dwarka district received the highest rainfall of 121 mm in the 24-hour period ending Wednesday morning. Other areas, such as Dwarka and Kalyanpur, also experienced significant rainfall during this period. Several talukas in Jamnagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Porbandar, and Kutch districts received over 50 mm of rainfall, and 54 talukas across Saurashtra and Kutch districts received more than 10 mm of rainfall during the same period.
Evacuation Efforts and Preparations
To ensure the safety of coastal residents, the evacuation process is ongoing. As of now, approximately 50,000 individuals have been relocated to temporary shelters, with the remaining 5,000 expected to be shifted by the evening. Among the evacuees, nearly 18,000 have been moved to shelters in the Kutch district, while others have been evacuated from Junagadh, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Morbi, and Rajkot.
In response to the cyclone threat, various disaster response teams and government departments have been mobilized. The deployment includes 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 12 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 115 teams from the state road and building department, and 397 teams from the state electricity department. Additionally, officials from the Electricity and Road & Building departments have been dispatched to restore connectivity and power supply. Communication teams equipped with HAM Radio sets and satellite phones have also been stationed in the coastal region to facilitate better communication.
Anticipated Impact and Further Updates
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a bulletin stating that the intensity of rainfall will continue to increase as the cyclone approaches the Gujarat coast on June 15. Isolated areas in the districts of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, and Jamnagar are expected to experience extremely heavy rains. Cyclone Biparjoy is likely to cross Saurashtra, Kutch, and the adjoining coasts of Pakistan between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau port (Gujarat) on the evening of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm, with sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph.
The IMD has also forecasted heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi, Junagadh, and other districts of Saurashtra and North Gujarat on Thursday. On Friday, light to moderate rainfall, along with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places, is expected in the north Gujarat districts and adjoining south Rajasthan.
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