As Cyclone Biparjoy approaches the coastal regions of Gujarat, authorities have issued a red alert for Saurashtra and Kutch. They anticipate the cyclone causing damage to roads, crops, houses, power supply, communication networks, and disruptions to train services.
Preventive measures have been implemented, with over 94,000 people already relocated from vulnerable areas in eight coastal districts. This includes residents of 120 villages situated within a 10-kilometer radius from the seashore in Kutch.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Biparjoy may result in the falling of trees and branches, and severe damage to structures such as thatched, mud, tin, and asbestos houses. Tidal waves and heavy rainfall are also expected in the coastal districts.
The intensity of rainfall is predicted to increase as the cyclone nears the coast, with isolated areas in Gujarat's Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, and Jamnagar districts likely to experience extremely heavy rainfall over the next few hours.
The latest update indicates that Cyclone Biparjoy is located less than 140 kilometers west-southwest of Jakhau and is projected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch between 9 and 10 pm.
Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi, and Junagarh districts are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, while Saurashtra and northern Gujarat will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Cyclone Biparjoy's impact is also anticipated along Pakistan's Mandvi and Karachi coasts.
The IMD has warned of storm surges along the coasts of Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, and Morbi districts in Gujarat. Low-lying areas may be flooded due to astronomical tides reaching as high as six meters in some locations.
The evacuation process in Gujarat's coastal areas was completed on Wednesday morning, with a total of 94,427 people relocated to temporary shelters in eight districts. Among those moved, nearly 8,900 are children, 1,131 are pregnant women, and 4,697 are elderly individuals. Medical teams are regularly visiting the 1,521 shelter homes established in these districts.
To ensure the safety and facilitate rescue operations, 15 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 12 teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed at strategic points along the Gujarat coastline. Additionally, the Army, Coast Guard, Border Security Force, and other agencies are on standby.
Western Railway has taken precautionary measures by canceling, short-terminating, or short-originating a total of 143 trains to ensure passenger safety and the smooth operation of train services.
In neighboring Pakistan, the climate change ministry has evacuated 73,000 people from southeastern coastal areas and provided relief camps to house them. The cyclone is anticipated to bring storm surges of up to 3.5 meters, potentially flooding Karachi, a megacity with a population of approximately 20 million.
With authorities actively engaged in relief efforts and multiple agencies prepared for rescue operations, the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy on the coastal regions of Gujarat and Pakistan remains a concern. Efforts are underway to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected populations, as well as to mitigate the potential damage caused by the cyclone.
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