Authorities in Gujarat have so far shifted 50,000 people from coastal areas of Gujarat to safe shelters ahead of the expected landfall of powerful cyclone 'Biparjoy' near Jakhau port in Kutch district.
With the cyclone heading towards the Gujarat coast, parts of the Saurashtra-Kutch region received heavy showers accompanied by gusty winds, the Met department said on Wednesday.
The cyclone is likely to make landfall on Thursday evening as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' with maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 kilometres per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Biparjoy has surfed the Arabian Sea for over one week. The storm started its voyage on 06th June as a depression and quickly upgraded to a severe cyclonic storm the next day on 07th June. After intensification to an extremely severe cyclonic storm on 11th June, slipped back to a very severe cyclonic storm on 12th June 2023. It is parked now over the deep ocean waters of the Northeast Arabian Sea.
Precautionary measures
Precautionary measures have been taken by the state administration to minimize the losses. Ports have been shut, schools have been closed, transportation suspended. The storm will damage the weak structures, kutcha houses, and tin rooftops along with flooding and inundation. Felling of trees is expected in large numbers and power lines may get snapped. Relief operations can commence only after the storm moves deep inside.
Operation of more than hundred trains has been affected due to cyclone Biparjoy. According to spokesperson of West Railway spokesperson, 69 trains have been suspended, 33 trains have been terminated before their destination and 25 trains have been arranged to operate from stations situated in between.
Extremely heavy rains expected
The IMD said in a bulletin that the intensity of rainfall would increase as the cyclone approaches the Gujarat coast on June 15, with isolated places in the districts of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar likely to be lashed by extremely heavy rains.
A few places in Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi, Junagadh and the remaining districts of Saurashtra and North Gujarat region are also likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on Thursday.
Dr. Mandaviya visits Bhuj Airforce Station to take stock of preparations
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the preparedness measures being taken on cyclone ‘Biparjoy’, in Kutch on Wednesday.
The Union Health Minister visited the Bhuj Air Force Station to take stock of the preparations made by the 'Garuda' Emergency Response Team of the Indian Air Force. After undertaking the review, he stated that “our jawans are fully prepared for the safety of life and property from the cyclone”.
Minister visits K K Patel Super Speciality hospital
Dr Mandaviya later visited the K K Patel Super Speciality hospital in Bhuj to assess the emergency preparedness. He also reviewed the availability of oxygen, ventilators and critical care beds in Kutch district government hospitals, trust-run hospitals and other hospitals in the region.
Union Health Minister also reviewed the preparations of health facilities that will be made immediately available if needed, post the cyclone.
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