Cyclone Biparjo: PM Modi holds review meeting and IMD issues warnings

IMD has said that the extremely severe cyclonic storm “Biparjoy” is very likely to cross between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of 15th June.

Biparjoy- a cyclonic storm that formed in the Arabian Sea, has gradually started taking on a formidable form. The location of the cyclone is currently 320 km from Porbandar, 440 km from Naliya, and 360 km from Dwarka. The storm is moving towards Mandvi in Kutch and Karachi in Pakistan. Keeping in view the severity of the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting to assess the preparedness to tackle the fallout of the cyclone, which may hit the Kutch region of Gujarat on Thursday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the extremely severe cyclonic storm “Biparjoy” is very likely to cross between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of 15th June as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph.

In view of the ever-increasing threat of the storm, the administration has started evacuating the people from the seashore areas to safer places. 2500 people have been evacuated from Okha in Dwarka district and sent to safer places. Arrangements have been made for everyone’s stay at the nearby Rupen Bandar Primary Schools. Most of these include old people, children, and women. By alerting all the surrounding villages, the work of transfer is being done completely under the supervision of the tehsildar.

According to the forecast of the Meteorological Department, on June 15, Biparjoy may collide between Mandvi in Kutch and Karachi in Pakistan. Because of this, all the seacoasts adjacent to Gujarat have been alerted. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy rains in Kutch, Jamnagar, and Devbhoomi Dwarka on June 15 and 16.

The administration has imposed Section 144 in the coastal areas of Kutch as a precautionary measure. A holiday has been declared for primary, secondary, and college schools in Kutch. Signal number 10 has been installed at all the ports of Dwarka, Jamnagar, and Kutch. The highest danger signal, number 9, has been installed in Porbandar.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has assigned different responsibilities for the coastal districts to the concerned ministers. A day before, on Sunday, a heavy storm was seen in the Mangrol Sea of Junagadh. Waves were rising up to 15 feet in height.

Four teams have been allocated for rescue work in Kutch in view of the cyclonic storm. Two SDRF and two NDRF teams have been allocated in Kutch. One team of SDRF and one team of NDRF have been deployed in Naliya. At the same time, a team of the NDRF has been deployed in Mandvi.

SDRF’s team of 25 people reached Bhuj on Monday morning. The SDRF team has been kept on standby in Bhuj. SDRF and NDRF teams have started patrolling the maritime areas. Seawater has started coming out of the Pingleshwar seashore, located in Nalia, Kutch. The Naliya Marine Commando Taskforce is deployed with logistical support to assist people along the nearby seashore.

The SDRF team reviewed the situation at Jakhou Port near Naliya. All the boards fitted into the drain have been removed. Number 10 signals have been installed at Mundra, Kandla, Mandvi, and Jakhau ports in Kutch. Recently, the wind has been blowing at a speed of 40 to 50 km/h in the coastal area of Kutch.