Cyclone Biparjoy highlights: Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel briefs PM Modi on cyclonic situation

Bhuj SP Karan Raj Vaghela said on Thursday, “We have safely evacuated around 50,000 people to the shelter homes. Police, medical team, food and drinking arrangements have been made at all the shelter homes. We have NDRF, SDRF, Marine, BSF, and Army teams deployed in the area. No casualty has been reported in East and West Kutch.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is supporting the government of Pakistan's efforts to prepare for and respond to the public health impact of Tropical Cyclone Biparjoy.

WHO's Incident Management Support Team (IMST) has been activated to ensure coordination of all health activities on the ground by health cluster partners and federal and provincial health ministries, as well as mobilise resources for preparedness and response activities. Additionally, WHO has prepositioned essential emergency medicines in Sindh, including oral rehydration salts (ORS), aqua tabs, and essential medicine, to assist vulnerable communities affected by the cyclone by ensuring uninterrupted access to health care and limiting the spread of infectious diseases. A technical working group has been established to oversee the cyclone emergency preparedness plan and mechanism for the response.

(ANI)

Gujarat's Jamnagar airport director DK Singh said that the preparations have been completed to deal with cyclone Biparjoy. “NOTAM issued till 16th June- movement of all flights will be suspended from 1:30 pm to 4 pm. Diesel and petrol required to operate the airport in case of emergency have also been stored. There is no aircraft in the parking area at the airport now,” he said.

NDRF DG Atul Karwal said on Thursday speaking about Cyclone Biparjoy, “18 teams of NDRF and 12 teams of SDRF have been deployed across Gujarat in which the maximum team is in Kutch. Other detailed preparations have also been done. Pregnant women have been identified and shifted to hospitals. Reserve NDRF teams at 15 more places have been deployed across the state to minimise the loss of life and property.”

 The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a statement expressing concern over media personnel reporting on Cyclone Biparjoy. 

In a statement, Ministry said, “Ministry has cautioned that reporting from the ground level may pose serious risks of safety and security of the reporters and the cameramen and other personnel deployed by the private satellite TV channels for reporting of this incident. Ministry has also expressed concern that such ground reporting may risk the lives of the various personnel deployed.”

NDRF Assistant Commandant Nikhil Mudholkar said on Thursday, “The speed of wind is around 60-70 kmph right now. We have reviewed the coastal areas and the low-lying areas and forces have been deployed there. We appeal to the people of the state to stay indoors and follow the guidelines issued by the government.”

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi visits Gomti Ghar in Gujarat to review the situation as Cyclone Biparjoy 

Issuing a red alert for Saurashtra and Kutch coasts as Cyclone Biparjoy approaches, India Meterological Department on Thursday said, that the vert severe cyclonic storm was 170km west-southwestwards of Jakhau Port. 

More than a hundred thousand people have been evacuated across India and Pakistan as cyclone Biparjoy is set to make a landfall within hours.

The severe storm has shuttered some major Indian oil and container ports, including Adani Group’s flagship Mundra operation and the oil ports of Sikka and Vadinar. The Indian army has sent about 4,500 specialized personnel to the area to provide medical assistance and help in the recovery.

The cyclone follows devastating rains in Pakistan last year that flooded about a third of the nation, killing 1,700 people, displacing millions, and causing about $30 billion in losses and damages. It will further complicate the country’s efforts to revive the economy at a time when it has to make billions of dollars of external debt payments.

(Bloomberg)

Mukund Gujar DIG Coast Guard, Mumbai said on Thursday, “Preemptive measures for the safety of life at sea and property were initiated by the Coach Guard Regional Headquarters in Mumbai as well as by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center. So far for a period of almost ten days, we have worn and shepherded more than 1,600 fishing boats and around 5,000 merchant vessels to safety. We also launched Coast Guard Donald and Chetak Helicopter to assess the situation and warn the traffic to proceed for safety.”

Heavy rainfall was witnessed in several parts of Gujarat as Cyclone Biparjoy approaches.

Dozens of trains passing through Gujarat's coastal districts have been cancelled and many short-terminated as a precautionary measure in view of cyclone ‘Biparjoy’, the Western Railway announced on Thursday morning. The very severe cyclonic storm, lay centred over the Northeast Arabian Sea, was moving north-northeastward with a speed of 6 kmph and was hours away from making landfall near Guajrat's Jakhau port. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that the gale wind speed at 115-125 kmph gusting to 135 kmph has extensive potential to disrupt power and communication lines and railways.

See the list here.

NDRF, Gandhinagar, Deputy Commandant Anupam said on Thursday, “Teams are taking stock of the low-lying areas. Relief work is underway. Its (Cyclone Biparjoy) effect will be maximum till 4-8 pm.”

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday morning said that Cyclone Biparjoy, at present, is moving north-northeastwards towards Saurashtra and Kutch coast and is around 180 km away from Jakhau port.

Director General of the India Meteorological Department, Mrityunjay Mohapatra, gave an update on the movement of Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea.

"This morning Cyclone Biparjoy is moving north-northeastwards towards Saurashtra and Kutch coast and is around 180 km away from Jakhau port. It is currently centred on the northeast Arabian Sea. The wind speed is 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph. By the evening, it will reach the coast and hit the Saurashtra-Kutch coast near Jakhau port and the Pakistan coast. The predicted wind speed is 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph, a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm", said the IMD Director General.

ANI

IMD Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said on Thursday, “The landfall process of Cyclone Biporjoy will start from evening and continue till night. Wind speed will be 115-125 kmph (when it crosses Jakhau port between Mandvi and Karachi).”

Delhi is set to experience rainfall in the next few days under the influence of cyclone 'Biparjoy', the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its forecast Wednesday. This will bring much relief from heat as the temperature hovered around 45°C in parts of the city, while “real feel” soared to around 50°C Tuesday and strong surface winds prevailed on Wednesday. 

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Drone visuals from Gujarat’s Kachchh show high tidal waves hit coasts

Extremely high tidal waves and strong winds were witnessed at Mandvi in Gujarat. 

A tree was uprooted near NDRF camp in Dwarka, Gujarat due to high wind-speed triggered by cyclone Biparjoy.

IMD Director General Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra said on Thursday, “Sea conditions will remain disturbed today in northeast Arabian Sea due to cyclone 'Biparjoy'. All fishing operations should remain suspended. Offshore activities, port and industrial activities & oil explorations should be regulated today.”

Around 62,000 people have been evacuated to safer places in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy's expected landfall on Thursday.

Biparjoy, currently a “very severe cyclonic storm”, is inching closer to India and Pakistan, prompting authorities to take preventive measures to minimise the damage it may cause to life and property.

It is expected to make landfall between Keti Bandar Port in Sindh's Thatta district and Kutch district in India.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon told the media that some 62,000 people had been evacuated from places which are near the coastline areas of Sindh.

(PTI)

Gujarat Health Minister, Rushikesh Patel said on Thursday, “More than 47,000 people shifted to shelter homes in the Kachchh district. All pregnant women moved to hospitals and other safe locations. Our aim is to ensure zero casualties. I appeal to people to remain safe at their respective locations and avoid travel.”

Rough sea waves were seen at the Gateway of India as cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make landfall in Gujarat on Thursday.

Biparjoy is expected to make landfall near the Jakhau coast, Gujarat in the evening and will traverse all along the Rann of Kutch up to Rajasthan. Meanwhile, high tide is also expected in Mumbai at 10:29 am, Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai said.

"VSCS Biparjoy over Northeast Arabian Sea at 0530 hours IST of 15th June, 2023 about 180km west-southwest of Jakhau Port (Gujarat). To cross Saurashtra & Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi and Karachi near Jakhau Port by evening of 15th June as a VSVS," Tweeted IMD.

ANI

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a review meeting at the State Emergency Operation Center in Gandhinagar, on cyclone 'Biparjoy'.

As cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ is set to make landfall in the coastal state of Gujarat on Thursday, the locals and authorities were seen making preparations to mitigate the impact of the ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm, which is expected to cause heavy damage. Visuals surfaced from Rasulnagar village in Jamnagar where the residents put up ropes across their village to ensure mobility while braving strong winds and heavy rainfall that is expected to follow the cyclone’s arrival.

A video of the preparation surfaced online, where villagers were seen installing ropes throughout the village, connecting homes to temples and elsewhere, in a bid to ensure safe navigation in their surroundings amid the impending challenging weather conditions.

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