In the wake of the upcoming landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy which is expected to commence today, June 15 evening and continue till midnight, close to 100,000 people in Gujarat have been evacuated and relocated to safety shelters.

“It is very likely to move northeastwards and cross Saurashtra & Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by tonight, the 15th June as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph. Landfall process will commence from the evening of today, the 15th June and continue till midnight,” the statement issued by India Meteorological department (IMD) at 01:40 PM mentioned.

The IMD has also issued a red alert for Gujarat. The red alert is a warning which is considered to be the highest level of weather warning. A red alert warning also signifies that there is a risk to life and property. 

‘Two anticyclones drifted Cyclone Biparjoy towards Gujarat’

It is important to mention that initially, following the formation of Cyclone Biparjoy, experts had forecasted it to venture towards the north-western parts of the sea and make a landfall somewhere on the Omani coast.

When Gaon Connection asked Mahesh Palawat, vice president, climate and meteorology at private weather forecasting website Skymet Weather about the reason behind the change in the course of the cyclone, he attributed it to the formation of two anticyclones in the Arabian Sea.

“The formation of two anticyclones on both sides of Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea disrupted its forecasted trajectory. These anticyclones drifted Cyclone Biparjoy towards Gujarat coast,” Palawat told Gaon Connection. 

Also Read: Gujarat Braces Up For Landfall As Cyclone Biparjoy Hovers 300 KMs Away From Porbandar

Army, Navy, Air Force On Stand By

Meanwhile, considering the damage expected in the landfall process of Cyclone Biparjoy, the armed forces have been put on standby in the event of any untoward incident.

“In consonance with its firm resolve to mitigate the hardships felt by the population in times of natural disaster all armed forces that is the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard have prepared themselves to provide assistance to the locals in view of Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat,” Wing Commander N Manish, an spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence was quoted by news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, as per IMD heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to take place in some parts of Kutch and Devbhumi Dwarka which are the two districts that are most impacted by the cyclone.

“Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over north Gujarat and adjoining south Rajasthan on 16th and southeast Rajasthan & adjoining North Gujarat region on 17th June,” the bulletin added.

Further it forecasted that the sea conditions will be ‘phenomenal’ over northeast Arabian Sea and ‘rough to very rough’ over adjoining east central Arabian Sea till June 15 evening and would improve thereafter.

Also Read: Cyclone in Arabian Sea — will it affect monsoon onset? Here’s what experts say

Storm surge warnings have also been issued in the low lying areas Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagarh and Morbi districts at the time of landfall.

As Kutch braces for Biparjoy landfall, the Gujarat government has evacuated more than 74,000 people from eight coastal districts including 5,822 along the coast of Kutch district. It has also issued prohibitory orders to shut down public transport and advised people to remain indoors.

In the meantime, the coastal regions of Pakistan are also on high alert with over 67,000 people being evacuated to safer places in the Sindh province.

Heavy damages expected

As cyclone Biparjoy is intensifying, total destruction of thatched houses is expected to occur. The Met department also expects extensive damage to kutcha houses.

Additionally, the IMD warned of uprooting of power and communication poles, major damage to kutcha and pucca roads, flooding of escape routes, disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems.

Further it also warned of widespread damage to standing crops and plantations, meanwhile small boats, country crafts may get detached from moorings.

Disaster management on war footing

Reportedly, two teams each of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in Gujarat, while teams from the Army and Indian Air Force have also been kept on standby.

As many as 187 cyclone shelters have been set up where power generators have been installed to ensure supply in case of grid power failure.

Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard has made adequate arrangements to offer assistance to the affected population.

NDRF Director General [DG] Atul Karwal told the press that as the cyclone is intensifying, 18 teams of NDRF and 12 teams of SDRF have been deployed across Gujarat in which the most teams are positioned in Kutch.

“Other detailed preparations have also been done. Pregnant women have been identified and shifted to hospitals. Reserve NDRF teams at 15 more places have been deployed across the state to minimise the loss of life and property,” he was quoted as saying.

As the cyclone is about to make a landfall, the Kutch district administration has ordered schools to remain shut for two more days. 

With inputs from Laraib Fatima Warsi in Lucknow