Cyclone Biparjoy live updates: PM Narendra Modi phones Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, assures all help

“Take every possible measure to ensure evacuation of people living in vulnerable locations,” said PM Modi at Cyclone Biparjoy review meet, reported PTI. 

IMD Director General, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra speaks on Cyclone Biparjoy, says, "We have issued an Orange alert for June 14 and a Red alert for June 15 for all districts. From June 15 we will see a landfall in it and will move towards the north-northeast (NNE) direction. We appeal to people to stay at safe locations."

He further said, “Cyclone Biparjoy is slowly moving in the north direction with a speed of 5 kmph and will change direction after June 14. A very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 125-135 km/h is likely to hit Saurashtra, Kutch and Pakistan coast by the afternoon of June 15. There will be heavy rains in Saurashtra, Kutch on June 14-15.”

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Saurashtra and Kutch coasts in Gujarat in view of the extremely severe cyclonic storm "Biparjoy" over the east-central and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea.

The extremely severe cyclonic storm over east-central and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea moved northwards with a speed of 7 kmph during past six hours and lay centered at 8 am on Monday about 320 km southwest of Porbandar, 360 km south-southwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, 440 km south of Jakhau Port, 440 km south-southwest of Naliya and 620 km south of Karachi (Pakistan).

An IMD release mentioned of storm surge warning in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar and Morbi districts of Gujarat and said storm surge of about 2 -3 m above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate the low lying areas of the districts during the time of landfall.

(ANI)

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said on Sunday, “We have deployed two teams in addition to the already available three teams in Mumbai as a precautionary measure. Further, we have moved 4 other teams to Gujarat. Our teams at Pune are also ready.”

“Signal number 10 has been put up and there are no ships at Kandla port. A temporary shelter centre has been set up for the people, with all facilities,” Om Prakash, PRO, Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, Gujarat said. 

Before cyclone:

Ensure the house is well-maintained and free of loose tiles, sharp objects, doors and windows. Keep some wooden boards ready or paper strips to cover glass windows and prevent splinters flying into the house.

Clear branches or trees near the house that may cause damage. Anchor or store in a closed room removable objects that may fly under strong winds such as loose tin sheets, bricks, and dustbins

During, after cyclone

Switch off all the electrical mains, gas supply

Keep all the doors and windows shut

Don't do these things:

Don’t leave shelters until informed by the rescue personnel.

Do not enter dilapidated buildings which are prone to collapsing anytime Here are the detailed guidelines

Railways says the wind velocity is being measured and monitored hourly basis in order to impose traffic restrictions for movement on bridges (maximum wind speed of 60 Kmph). Monsoon precautions shall also be implemented fully, it adds.

Activation of Disaster Management Room at the Zonal Railway headquarters and round-the-clock manning by various departments.

Operation of emergency control rooms at division headquarters in Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, and Gandhidham.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting as cyclone 'Biparjoy' off the west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone and could hit Gujarat and southern parts of Pakistan this week.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 km per hour, gusting up to 150 km per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

Nearly a dozen districts in coastal Gujarat would be affected by heavy rainfall and gusting winds, although some of the districts are sparsely populated, which would limit the damage, said a weather office official told news agency Reuters.

Read Here.

A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed, ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy, in Vadodara on Saturday.

Strong winds and high tides have hit Gujarat coast as Cyclone Biporjoy intensifies. Visuals from Tithal Beach.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the government's preparedness for Cyclone Biparjoy which has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the east central Arabian Sea.

Read Here.

Indian Railways has implemented various measures to ensure the safety and minimise the impact of the cyclone.

The landfall is predicted to occur near Mandvi-Jakhau Port in Gujarat on the evening of the 14th. 

The city of Navsari in Gujarat experienced rainfall late at night due to the effects of the cyclone. The rain provided respite from the high temperatures and the heat. It is not currently raining there, however, high-speed winds and high tides hit the Navsari coasts, because of which people have been advised to not go near the coast. The district administration has issued alerts and the preparation for evacuation of villages near the coast has already been made. The Police have been stationed near the coasts to prevent people from venturing there.

The Adani Mundra Port issued a Local Warning Signal Number 4, indicating a possible danger to the port and its ships on account of Cyclone Biparjoy. Small ships continue to be in use and the big ships have been instructed to remain at sea.

(ANI)

In Dwarka, Harshad village experienced the effects of the cyclone. The water from the sea reached the main markets of the village, creating a flooded situation where water found its way into the shops as well.

(ANI)

KD Lakhani, the DM of Porbander, issued a statement on the preparations for the cyclone. He said that the district administration is working alongside the Government and joining hands with various NGOs to prepare for the effects of the storm. Low-lying and coastal areas have been prioritised, and heavy rains have been anticipated. Cyclone shelters, holding a capacity of 500 people each, have been prepared for the safe evacuation of people in low-lying areas. Fishing permits were halted, and all fishing boats were anchored safely in anticipation of the cyclone.

"We have been coordinating with all the departments. We have communicated with people in the low-lying areas. We have prepared shelters to evacuate the population in the 30-31 villages of the coastal areas, whose families could be affected by the cyclone. There are four cyclone centres in the coastal areas, each can fit 500 people. No fishing permits have been given since June by the fishery department, and no fishermen are at deep sea without permits; we have made sure of that. All 4500 boats in the district have been anchored safely. Fishermen have been given the advisory. We are working with NGOs and the government, and are prepared to provide relief to areas affected by heavy rainfall," said Lakhani in an update.

(ANI)

Section 144 has been imposed in parts of coastal villages of Kutch

A big tree has fallen on a three cars at Vasant Vihar due to strong winds in Thane city in the wake of Cyclone Biparjoy.

Port Officer for Gujarat's Okha Port issued a statement on Monday stating, "This is to inform all port users and government agencies that as per port warning received from Indian Meteorological Department on 12/06/2023 at 11:30 hrs port has hoisted GREAT DANGER WARNING SIGNAL-X (GD-10) at Okha Port until further notice.