The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for upcoming heavy rainfall for Gujarat’s Kutch, Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi districts as Cyclone Biparjoy has intensified into an ‘extremely severe’ cyclonic storm.
The cyclonic storm is moving towards coastal Kutch, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka and Junagadh districts in the state’s Saurashtra region and is likely to make a landfall on June 15.
The orange alert is issued as a warning of extremely bad weather with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail disruptions, and interruption of power supply.
The cyclonic storm is moving towards coastal Kutch, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka and Junagadh districts in the state’s Saurashtra region and is likely to make a landfall on June 15.
The IMD’s bulletin issued today, on June 12 at 2:30 PM stated that the extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is very likely to cross Saurashtra-Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan around the noon of June 15 with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kilometres per hour [kmph] gusting to 150 kmph.
“The intensity of rainfall would increase with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka & Jamnagar and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi & Junagadh districts of Gujarat on 15th June,” the bulletin added.
Further, it forecasted that the sea conditions are likely to be ‘rough to very rough’ till the morning of June 14 and ‘high’ to ‘phenomenal’ thereafter till June 15 noon and improve thereafter along and off Saurashtra and Kutch coasts.
Storm surge warnings have been issued to the low lying areas of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagarh and Morbi districts, likely to be inundated during the time of landfall.
Damage expected
Cyclone Biparjoy has intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, expected to cause destruction over Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Morbi, Junagadh and Rajkot districts of Gujarat on June 15.
The Met department expects total destruction of thatched houses and extensive damage to kutcha houses and some damage to pucca houses.
Storm surge warnings have been issued to the low lying areas of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagarh and Morbi districts, likely to be inundated during the time of landfall.
Additionally, uprooting of power and communication poles, major damage to roads, flooding of escape routes, disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems, could be witnessed in the affected regions according to the IMD warning bulletin.
Also Read: India to receive normal monsoon rainfall this year: IMD
The advisory suggested total suspension of fishing operations over east-central and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea till June 15.
Additional suggested steps by the Met department for the coastal communities include:
- Those out at sea are advised to return to coast
- Mobilise evacuation from coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch (Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi districts)
- Judicious regulation of rail and road traffic
- People in affected areas to remain indoors
A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held today to review the preparedness to tackle the destructive impact of Cyclone Biparjoy.
The Gujarat government is deploying National Disaster Relief Force and State Disaster Relief Force teams in coastal areas and will set up shelters in the six districts which are likely to be significantly affected.
Today, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a meeting with collectors of coastal districts, State Emergency Operation Center, Indian Coast Guard and officials of various departments and gave guidelines for disaster management to cause minimal inconvenience to the affected population.
The state government is coordinating with the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Army for the upcoming disaster. Concerned agencies are also on standby for efficient management of the cyclone’s impact.
