Cyclone Biparjoy, a name given by Bangladesh and pronounced as ‘Biporjoy’ is set to make a landfall today (June 15) evening near Jakhau Port in Gujarat’s Kutch district.
Forecasters have warned that Cyclone Biparjoy - which means "disaster" in Bengali- could destroy homes and crops.
India Meteorological Department said that before hitting the port, the very severe cyclonic storm will cross Saurashtra and Kutch and the adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi and Karachi.
On Thursday morning, visuals showed rough sea conditions in Gujarat’s Mandvi. Strong winds in the area were reported too. Several central ministers, including Amit Shah, Mansukh Mandaviya, Rajnath Singh Read More
Amit Arora, collector Kachchh, Gujarat said that the cyclone is expected to make landfall between 4-5pm today.
Taking on preparedness, he added that 46,000 people have been evacuated and shifted to shelter homes. Six NDRF, 3 RPF teams, 2 SDRF teams and 8 columns of Army are on standby.
“More than 20,000 animals have been taken to safer places. Adequate amount of food ration available at all shelter homes. 50 teams ready for road clearance,” he added.
Cyclone Biparjoy is less than 200 kilometres from the Gujarat coast and its impending landfall on Thursday evening, along with the anticipated heavy rain and storm surge, have led to the evacuation of 74,000 people living in vulnerable areas, authorities have said. The administration has shifted people from nearly 120 villages located between zero and 10 km from the seashore in Kutch district.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Biparjoy is expected to make landfall near Jakhau port as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 kilometres per hour.
According to BBC, more than 100,000 people in India and Pakistan have been evacuated from the path of a fierce cyclone a day before its expected landfall.
Biparjoy has been making its way across the Arabian Sea and is expected to first hit India's Gujarat state on Thursday evening local time.
At least seven people have already died amid heavy rains in India.
The victims include two children crushed by a collapsing wall, and a woman hit by a falling tree while riding a motorbike, AFP news agency reported.
In Pakistan, the storm is expected to strike the coast of Sindh province. Authorities have already evacuated 62,000 people from the south-eastern coast and set up 75 relief camps at schools.
Source: online
BDST: 1013 HRS, JUNE 15, 2023
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