Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ | 21,000 shifted to safer places from Gujarat coast

Cyclone Biparjoy, which is likely to make landfall near Jakhau port in Kutch district on June 15, 2023, holds “extensive damaging potential” for the coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch.

As Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ barrels towards Gujarat, the State government has shifted nearly 21,000 people from coastal areas to safer places.

The cyclone, which is likely to make landfall near Jakhau port in Kutch district on Thursday, holds “extensive damaging potential” for the coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch, officials said.

According to the India Meteorological Department, Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ weakened from an extremely severe cyclone to a very severe cyclone on Tuesday. It is expected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat and the adjoining Pakistan coast between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near the Jakhau port (Gujarat) in the evening of June 15 with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-150 kmph.

“Its damaging potential could be extensive,” IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said at a press conference in New Delhi.

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 15. Gusty winds and rain may cause extensive damage to standing crops, houses, roads, electricity and communication poles.

“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,” Mr. Mohapatra said.

The Gujarat government has deployed teams from the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force and created over 500 temporary shelters in eight coastal districts that are likely to be hit by the cyclonic winds accompanied by heavy rain beginning Wednesday.