New Delhi: An “extremely severe” cyclonic storm “Biparjoy” (pronounced as “Biporjoy”) over east-central and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea is very likely to move nearly northwards till June 14, 2023, morning, then cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph.
Storm surge of about 2 -3 metres above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate the low-lying areas of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, and Morbi districts of Gujarat during the time of landfall of “Biparjoy” on June 15.
Sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough till the morning of June 14, 2023, and high to phenomenal thereafter till June 15 noon and improve thereafter along and off Saurashtra and Kutch coasts.
Today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) raised Cyclone Warning (Orange Message) for Saurashtra and Kutch Coasts. It warned of heavy rainfall in Gujarat’s Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh and Morbi districts.
The extremely severe cyclonic storm “Biparjoy” moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 07 kmph and lay centred at 1430 hours IST of today, over the same region near latitude 19.7°N and longitude 67.5°E, about 310 km southwest of Porbandar, 340 km south-southwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, 410 km south-southwest of Jakhau Port, 420 km south-southwest of Naliya and 580 km south of Karachi (Pakistan).
Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba met today and reviewed the preparedness of the Government of Gujarat and Central Ministries and Agencies for impending cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ in the Arabian Sea.
The Chief Secretary of Gujarat apprised the Committee of the preparatory measures being taken to protect the population in the expected path of the cyclonic storm and measures being taken by the local administration. Fishermen have been advised not to venture out into the sea and those at sea have been called back to a safe berth. A total of 21,000 boats have been parked so far. A list of all vulnerable villages has been prepared for evacuation purposes. Details of salt pan workers have also been prepared for shifting them to safe places. Adequate shelters, power supply, medicine and emergency services are being kept in readiness. 10 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are being deployed.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has already deployed 12 teams and 3 additional teams are kept in readiness in Gujarat. In addition, 15 teams, i.e., 5 Teams each at Arrakonam (Tamil Nadu), Mundli (Odisha) and Bathinda (Punjab) are kept alert for airlifting on short notice. Rescue and relief teams of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy along with ships and aircraft have been kept ready on standby.
An adequate number of teams and assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard are being deployed to assist the State of Gujarat in their preparedness, rescue and restoration efforts. Regular alerts and advisories are being sent to the maritime board and all stakeholders by Director-General, Shipping. Offshore Oil fields are being monitored regularly and offshore installations in Gujarat have been asked to ensure immediate return of all deployed manpower. Major ports Kandla and Mundra have been alerted and other ports have also been advised for preventive action.
Reviewing preparedness measures of the Central Agencies and Government of Gujarat, Cabinet Secretary Gauba stressed that preventive and precautionary measures should be taken by concerned authorities of the Government of Gujarat and concerned Central Agencies. The aim should be to keep the loss of lives to zero and minimize damage to property and infrastructure such as power and telecom, and in case of damage to this infrastructure, it must be restored in the shortest possible time.
The Cabinet Secretary said fishermen at sea should be called back and it must be ensured that people from vulnerable areas are evacuated well in time before the landfall of the cyclone. The Cabinet Secretary assured the Government of Gujarat that all Central agencies are ready and will be available for assistance.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary of Gujarat, Union Home Secretary, Chairman and CEO, Railway Board, Secretaries of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Power, Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Department of Fisheries, DGTelecom, Member Secretary NDMA, CISC IDS,DG IMD, DG NDRF, DG Coast Guard and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
– global bihari bureau
