Cyclone Biparjoy: As the powerful cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ approaches the Gujarat coast, the India Meteorological Department said it is set to make landfall on Thursday evening (June 15) near Jakhau port. Since its formation on June 6 in the Southeast Arabian Sea, Biparjoy had maintained a northward track, gathering strength and becoming an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm, with wind speed exceeding 160 kmph. Was packing the pace and then losing the intensity afterwards.
“If you look at the intensity, Cyclone Biparjoy has weakened a bit further. But, will make landfall on Thursday as a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speed reaching 125-135 kmph from morning to evening Will happen.” IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said. Under the impact of the cyclone, storm surge of 2-3 meters above astronomical tide is likely to make landfall in low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch and flood the region, he said.
Over 50,000 people were evacuated in Gujarat
The Gujarat government has conducted a massive exercise to evacuate people living in villages within 10 km radius of the coast, with a special focus on Kutch, which is likely to be most affected by the cyclone, and shift them to temporary shelters. Has been done.
So far, the authorities have evacuated over 50,000 people from vulnerable areas in a massive operation and deployed disaster management personnel for relief and rescue measures in Gujarat. Pandey told reporters in Gandhinagar that out of 50,000 people, around 18,000 were shifted to shelters in Kutch district, while others were evacuated from Junagadh, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Morbi and Rajkot.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took stock of the situation with senior officials, while at the central level, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh separately reviewed preparedness to deal with the impact of the cyclone. According to officials, 8 teams of NDRF, 12 teams of SDRF, 115 teams of State Road and Building Department and 397 teams of State Electricity Department have been deployed in various coastal districts.
Around 66,000 people were evacuated in Pakistan
Meanwhile, around 66,000 people living in coastal towns and small islands in Pakistan have been evacuated to safer places in view of the cyclone that made landfall on Thursday. In its latest update, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that the cyclone has moved away from Karachi and is currently 370 kilometers south of the country’s financial capital. The cyclone was earlier located 340 km south of Karachi and moved north-northeastwards during the last six hours.
Amit Shah canceled his Telangana tour
In view of the landfall, Union Home Minister Amit Shah canceled his scheduled visit to Telangana. He was to address a public meeting on Thursday in Khammam, about 200 km from Hyderabad. The meeting was to be held as part of the BJP’s mass contact campaign ahead of the year-end assembly elections in the state.
Sanjay Bandi took to Twitter and said, “Due to severe cyclonic conditions in the west coast, especially in the three states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji’s public meeting at Khammam on 15th June is postponed “
Rajnath Singh talks about the Armed Forces Chiefs
Earlier in the day, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the three service chiefs and reviewed the preparedness of the armed forces to deal with the impact of the cyclone. After reviewing the preparedness, Singh said that the armed forces are prepared to provide all possible assistance to the civil authorities in dealing with any situation or contingency that may arise due to the cyclone.
“Spoke to the three service chiefs and reviewed the preparedness of the armed forces for cyclone ‘Biparjoy’,” Singh said on Twitter. “The armed forces stand ready to render all possible assistance to the civil authorities in dealing with any situation or contingency due to the cyclone,” he said.
Indian Navy has been put on standby
Meanwhile, at least four Indian Navy ships equipped with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) brigs are on standby at short notice. Five relief teams each at Porbandar and Okha and 15 at Valsura are ready to provide assistance to the civil authorities. The helos at INS Hansa in Goa and INS Shikra in Mumbai are ready to board boats for Gujarat, the statement said.
In addition, P8i and Dornier aircraft are on standby ex-Hansa, Goa for aerial reconnaissance and transportation of relief material and personnel. Additional HADR stores and equipment have been kept on standby to be commissioned at further notice. The Headquarters of the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command (HQWNC) and the Regional Headquarters are maintaining close liaison with the State Government/civil authorities to render assistance in case of any contingency.
Dwarkadhish temple will remain closed on Thursday
In view of a possible landslide, the local administration has decided to keep the famous Dwarkadhish temple in Devbhoomi Dwarka district closed for devotees. Dwarka Sub-Divisional Magistrate and administrator of Dwarkadhish Temple Trust Partha Talsania said the temple will remain closed for devotees and visitors on Thursday. He said that this decision has been taken for the safety of the people in view of the cyclone warning.
Though devotees will not be allowed inside the temple premises, daily rituals will be performed inside by the priests and people will be able to watch it live on the temple’s website as well as social media handles. The famous Somnath temple in Gir Somnath district will remain open on Thursday, but the trust managing it has appealed to the devotees not to visit it.
17 SDRF teams deployed in Rajasthan
It must be mentioned here that Rajasthan has also geared up to deal with the cyclone as at least 17 SDRF teams have been deployed in the state to deal with the impact. State Chief Secretary Usha Sharma held a meeting with officials of various departments and district collectors to review the preparedness to deal with the impact of the cyclone. Sharma said that 17 teams of SDRF have been deployed and 30 teams are in reserve and directed the officers to be present at their headquarters to deal with the situation.
(with inputs from agencies)