Cyclone Biparjoy: Over 30,000 Evacuated; Heavy Rains Lashing Parts Of Gujarat

Over 30,000 people residing in coastal areas have been shifted to safe shelters as powerful Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make landfall near Jakhau port in Gujarat's Kutch district on 15 June.

The NDRF and SDRF teams are on standby. Besides, Army authorities have jointly planned relief operations with civil administration and National Disaster Response Force.

Heavy rains lashing parts of Gujarat

Due to the effect of Cyclone Biparjoy, heavy rains have been lashing parts of Gujarat. So much so that Veraval recorded 204 mm of rainfall, Porbandar 79 mm, Dwarka 30 mm, and Okha 16 mm.

Biparjoy is giving good showers and heavy rains is expected to be seen over some areas of Gujarat during the next 48 hours.

According to Slymet Weather, heavy rains may not travel deep inside towards Vadodara, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Deesa, and Patan. Heavy rains will remain confined to Junagarh, Okha, Porbandar, and Jamnagar and later may travel to Kutch also.

Coastal stations will be more vulnerable with strong winds also possible in these parts.

People within 10 km of radius to be evacuated

The Gujarat government is aiming to evacuate people within 10 km of the coast.

Ahmedabad IMD director Manorama Mohanty said the cyclone is likely to cross between Mandvi in Kutch and Karachi in Pakistan near Jakhau port with 125-135 kmph wind speed gusting to 150 kmph on the evening of June 15.

Extremely heavy rainfall warning

A warning has been issued for extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds in coastal parts of the Saurashtra-Kutch region, especially in the districts of Kutch, Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka, she said.

69 trains cancelled

A spokesperson of Western Railway, on Tuesday said that the authorities have cancelled 69 trains, short-terminated 32 trains while 26 trains will be short-originated as a precautionary measure in view of the safety of passengers and train operations with respect to the onset of Cyclone Biparjoy.

The Western Railway in a release has also said that it has taken various measures for the safety of passengers, including setting up disaster management rooms, help desks, keeping relief trains ready.

The Indian Meteorological Department on Tuesday said the cyclone has extensive damaging potential and is likely to impact Gujarat’s Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts the most.

Biparjoy marginally weakens

Skymet Weather said that as expected, cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ has marginally weakened into a very severe cyclonic storm. Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm have sustained winds of 167-221 kmh.  Very Severe Cyclonic Storm get a little lower band of 118-166 kmh. 

Cyclone is still packed with winds of the order of 160 kmh. Wind intensity will gradually keep reducing, as the storm heads toward Kutch for making landfall on 15th June.  Cyclone is expected to have strong winds of 125-135kmh when striking the coast on 15th afternoon.

Union Power Minister reviews preparations for power supply 

Meanwhile, RK Singh, Union Power Minister on Tuesday held a meeting with senior officers of Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Grid Controller of India and PGCIL for reviewing the preparations for maintenance of power supply in coastal areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan which are likely to be affected by Cyclone ‘Biparjoy‘. 

He also discussed various necessary arrangements with Power Minister of Gujarat on phone. Union Power Minister gave strict instructions to all concerned to continuously monitor the situation and take all necessary steps for maintaining the stable grid supply to the States likely to be affected and also make arrangements for Emergency Restoration System (ERS).

POWERGRID is closely monitoring the weather conditions and its transmission system regularly and 24X7 control rooms have been set up at Manesar and Vadodara.