Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make landfall in Gujarat's Saurashtra and Kutch regions and Pakistan coasts by the end of June 15. The cyclonic storm is currently located over the east-central Arabian Sea, about 350 kilometres southwest of Porbandar
IMD has issued a red alert for people in Saurashtra, Kutch and Mumbai. Several NDRF and SDRF teams and even Indian army soldiers are on standby. Further, relief kits including first-aid kits, dry food packets and other essential items have been prepared. The authorities have discouraged people from visiting the affected beach areas for two days and heavy patrolling has been done
As per reports, a person was killed due to a wall collapse in Gujarat’s Porbandar town owing to high-velocity winds. Earlier, two children were killed due to destruction caused by the heavy winds in Bhuj, Kutch
Due to the extreme winds, and the expected landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy, the Railway Ministry is taking precautionary measures by delaying or cancelling the trains to the affected areas. Western Railway has cancelled 69 trains
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed Gujarat's preparedness for the cyclone in a virtual meeting with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other senior officials. He has asked the state government to make arrangements to rehabilitate people and ensure the availability of essential services, including electricity, telecommunications, healthcare, and drinking water
Some of the regions located in the Saurashtra-Kutch region such as districts of Kutch, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Morbi, and Valsad are likely to get affected the most. “After it makes landfall and weakens, the movement of the cyclone is likely to remain north-eastward and it is expected to move towards extreme south Rajasthan. It will bring heavy to very heavy rain in north Gujarat till June 15-17,” IMD official told PTI
Cyclone Biparjoy rescue operation is being conducted in two phases. In the first phase, people living within 0 to 5 kilometers of the seashore are being evacuated. In the second phase, people living within 5 to 10 kilometers of the coast will be evacuated. Till now, over 37,000 people have been evacuated. 7 NDRF and 12 SDRF teams have been placed on standby
High tide waves have hit Mumbai’s coast. It is expected to experience rainfall by evening which might continue until the landfall. IMD Santacruze and IMD Colaba recorded max temperatures of 35.6 degrees and 33.4 degrees. IMD Ahmedabad recorded a max temperature of 36.6 degrees
Here are a few helpline numbers for those affected by Cyclone Biparjoy -
Control Room, NDM, Ministry of Home Affairs (Fax Number: 23093750)
Control Room, NDMA (Fax Number: 26701729)
Cabinet Secretariat (Fax Number: 23012284, 23018638)
Kutch: 02832, Gir Somnath: 02876240063
Rajkot: 02182471573, Junagarh: 02852633446