Cyclone Biparjoy: Centre & state taking all possible measures, thousands evacuated as IMD warns of flood, power disruption

Thousands of people have been evacuated from the coastal districts of Gujarat that are likely to be worst-hit by Cyclone Biparjoy. The Army and other agencies are on standby.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of floods and power outages in cyclone hit areas. The very severe cyclonic storm “Biparjoy” is very likely to cross between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near Jakhau Port in Gujarat around evening of 15th June with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph. In the meantime, widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls are expected over northeast India also during the next 5 days.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from the coastal districts of Gujarat that are likely to be worst-hit by Cyclone Biparjoy. The Army and other agencies are on standby, as in Gujarat and cyclone hit other areas, the intensity of rainfall may increase with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places very are likely over Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka & Jamnagar and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi & Junagadh districts of Gujarat and Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely over remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat region on 15th June.

Similarly, light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over north Gujarat and adjoining south Rajasthan on 16th June. Damage is expected over Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Morbi & Junagarh & Rajkot districts of Gujarat on 15th June.

IMD has warned that there may be a total destruction of thatched houses or extensive damage to kutcha houses. Some damage to Pucca houses has also been warned in the cyclone hit areas.

Meanwhile, R.K. Singh, Union Power Minister 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‘.

The minister also discussed various necessary arrangements with Power Minister of Gujarat on phone. He 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) along with necessary men and material to be stationed at the strategic locations so that restoration works can be taken up without any delay.

Singh also instructed PGCIL to extend all possible support and assistance to Gujarat Power Department for restoration of State Transmission Lines and distribution network. POWERGRID is closely monitoring the weather conditions and its transmission system regularly and 24X7 control rooms have been set up at Manesar and Vadodara.

On Tuesday, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya also reviewed the preparedness and measures being taken by the Centre and Gujarat state administration on cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ with Shri Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel, Health Minister of Gujarat at Bhuj, Gujarat today.

The ministry is in continuous communication with its regional offices in all states of the western coast including Gujarat with instructions to provide requisite support to the states in their preparedness for the cyclone. So far, no such request has been communicated to the Health Ministry.

Union Health Ministry continues to closely monitor the cyclone situation and is taking all necessary measures to be prepared for any health emergencies.