IMD issues red alert for Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy over Saurashtra, Kutch coasts

By  Firstdespatch Desk   Jun 14, 2023

India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Biparjoy' over Northeast Arabian Sea. The cyclon is likely to cross Saurashtra, Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near Jakhau Port of Gujarat by tomorrow evening with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph.

Regional Director,State Meteorological Department Manorama Mohanty said that the storm is moving in the north-north-east direction. She added that the cyclone was 280 km away from south-southwest of Jakhou port. She indicated that the cyclone is likely to make landfall between Mandvi and Karachi ports near Jakhou port tomorrow with a wind speed of 125 to 135 kmph. She expressed the possibility of heavy rains in some places of North Gujarat along with Saurastra Kutch under the impact of possible Biparjoy Cyclone intensity.

The Meteorological Department has issued an alert warning. As the distance of the strom is decreasing, the administration has also become alert.  However, the system is fully equipped to deal with any eventuality. Currently, In Gujarat, 16 NDRF teams have been deployed in Shaurashtra. Deputy Commander, NDRF, Ajay Kumar Singh said in Rajkot that a total of 16 teams have reached Kutch, Jamnagar, Dwarka, Rajkot, Porbandar, Morbi in Shaurashtra along with one team in Diu and one team in South Guajrat to deal with the possible effects of Cyclone Biparjoy on 14 th and 15 th June.

There are chances of heavy rain in Kutch, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagadh, Morbi and Gir Somnath, the cyclone-affected districts of Gujarat. Heavy rainfall with the wind speed of more than 125 kmph are expected today and tomorrow. People of all the most affected villages falling within 5 km from the coast where the cyclone is likely to hit Mandvi to Jakhau in Kutch districts are being evacuated. Gujarat Commissioner of Relief Alok Kumar Pandey said that, the state government is continuously working to prevent any loss of life due to the possible  Biparjoy cyclone which is likely to affect Gujarat.

Chief Secretary of Gujarat Rajkumar informed in a meeting in Gandhinagar with the Chief Minister Bhupendra patel and the district administration that more than 37,000 people have been shifted to safe places from eight districts namely Kutch, Porbandar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi-Dwarka, Gir-Somnath, Morbi and Rajkot. Provision of medicines and other materials is arranged in these districts.

As many as 521 PHCs, CHCs, Hospitals in theses districts have been equipped with health-protective drugs, equipment, generators. A total of 239 ambulances are also available including 157 ambulances services in flood prone areas. Following the possibility of wider spread impact of this storm in Kutch district, more than 40 thousand food packets, two thousand kilograms of milk powder and forty five thousand Tetra packs milk have been prepared to deliver to the needy people in Kutch. 15 teams of NDRF and 12 teams of SDRF have also been deployed for safety of the people.

DIG NDRF Mohsen Shahedi has said that 18 teams of NDRF and 13 teams of SDRF have been deployed in Gujarat and the evacuation process going on for the last two days. Briefing media in New Delhi, Mr Shahedi said, the main motive is to make sure that by the time of cyclone landfall, people stay in confined areas and their homes. He said awareness programmes and announcements are being conducted. The NDRF DIG said, over 45 thousand locals have been evacuated so far to safer places.