The very severe cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ intensified into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm" and is likely to make landfall along the Saurashtra-Kutch coasts. In view of the impending landfall, an orange alert has been sounded along and off the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts. The exact place where the cyclone will make landfall will become clear in the coming days, the weather agency said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting to review the situation related to Cyclone Biparjoy at 1 pm today, sources told CNN News18.
In its latest bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’ was very likely to move north-northeast and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) by the noon of June 15 as a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kilometres per hours (kmph) gusting to 150 kmph.
Due to cyclonic activities, sea conditions along and off Saurashtra and Kutch coasts will likely remain “rough to very rough" till Wednesday, and very rough to high on Thursday, IMD said.
High tidal waves and rainfall were also witnessed in Mumbai as Biparjoy intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.
The weather agency has advised total suspension of fishing operations in the region till June 15 and has asked fishermen to not venture into the central Arabian sea, north Arabian sea during June 12-15, and along and off Saurashtra-Kutch coasts till June 15. IMD also advised those out at sea to return to the coast and regulate offshore and onshore activities judiciously.
"In view of the above, the state governments are advised to keep a close watch, monitor the situation in their areas regularly and take appropriate precautionary measures. District authorities are advised accordingly," the IMD said.
At 4:30 pm on Sunday, the extremely severe cyclonic storm “Biparjoy” over east central Arabian Sea moved northeastward with a speed of 8 kmph.
It lays centred about 550 km west of Mumbai, 450 km south-southwest of Porbandar, 490 km south-southwest of Dwarka and 570 km south-southwest of Naliya in Kutch and 750 km south of Karachi in Pakistan, the Met department said.
“It is very likely to cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) by noon on June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph," IMD said.
A cyclone moving over the land after its intensification in the ocean is said to make landfall when the centre of the storm (eye) moves across the coast.
Several districts of Gujarat, including Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Morbi, Junagarh, and Rajkot, may face damages on June 15.
Expected destruction includes the demolition of thatched and kutcha houses, damage to pucca houses, uprooting of power and communication poles, and potential threats from flying objects, according to a report by the news agency IANS.
Further, transportation systems may be disrupted; and extensive damage to crops, plantations, and orchards is expected. The visibility in these areas will be severely impacted, and small boats and crafts may be at risk.
The Gujarat government is deploying NDRF and SDRF teams in coastal areas and will set up shelters in six districts before the extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy makes landfall on the state coast.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has delegated the task of advance planning and disaster management to senior ministers of the state cabinet. These ministers will provide guidance and support to the district systems.
The assigned ministers are as follows: Rishikesh Patel for Kutch District, Praful Bhai Pansheriya and Kanubhai Desai for Morbi, Raghavji Patel for Rajkot District, Kuvarji Bavaliya for Porbandar, Mulu Bhai Bera for Jamnagar District, Harsh Sanghavi for Devbhumi Dwarka, Jagadish Vishwakarma for Junagadh District, and Purushottam Solanki for Gir Somnath. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has instructed all these ministers to promptly reach their respective districts.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are being deployed along the coastal areas and various departments including fisheries, health and agriculture have been asked to work in coordination, according to Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey.
The government will set up shelter houses in the six districts for those residing within a 5-10 km radius of the coastline who will be shifted to safer places.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Sunday also reviewed the preparedness of different wings of the central government and the Gujarat administration to deal with the impending Cyclone Biparjoy.
The IMD has issued heavy rainfall warnings for Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh and Morbi districts on June 14 and 15.
On June 14, the intensity of rainfall is likely to increase to “heavy to very heavy " in a few places and “extremely heavy " at isolated places over the affected districts on June 15. The remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat regions are also likely to witness very heavy rainfall on that day, the IMD bulletin said.
In view of inclement weather conditions due to Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’, a runway at Mumbai airport was closed, leading to the cancellation and delay of some flights.