𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐣𝐨𝐲'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝐔𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬, 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟑 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝

The director general of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Atul Karwal, has confirmed that NDRF teams have been dispatched to Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, as heavy rains were expected in those regions due to Cyclone Biparjoy. The cyclone has caused significant damage, with approximately 500 houses being damaged, 23 people injured, and 800 trees uprooted. Tragically, two lives were lost before the cyclone made landfall.

Atul Karwal stated that most of the damaged houses were hutments or non-concrete structures, and only a few concrete houses were affected. He also mentioned that cell phone connectivity was still available in the affected areas. NDRF teams are actively working on the ground, and despite the cyclone's intensity reducing, Karwal emphasized the need to remain cautious due to the continuing heavy rain and high winds.

The landfall process of Cyclone Biparjoy began on Thursday evening, wreaking havoc in Jakhau and Mandvi towns in Gujarat's Kutch region. The storm's strong winds caused temporary sheds and hoardings to collapse, while incessant rain led to flooding in many low-lying areas.

The true extent of the damage caused by Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to become clearer over the weekend. Gujarat's Dwarka, Okha, Naliya, Bhuj, Porbandar, and Kandla have already experienced heavy rainfall since Thursday morning.

In preparation for the cyclone, all ports in Saurashtra and Kutch, including Mundra and Kandla, were shut down. Approximately 100,000 people were evacuated to safer locations prior to the cyclone's landfall. However, the affected areas continue to face challenges such as power outages, disrupted communication, and blocked roads due to fallen trees.

Cyclone Biparjoy, originating in the Arabian Sea, sustained cyclone-strength winds for a record-breaking 222 hours, making it the longest-lasting cyclone in the history of the northern Indian Ocean. It underwent rapid intensification twice during its formation. The cyclone's rapid intensification was fueled by the unusually warm Arabian Sea and favorable wind conditions.

It is noteworthy that cyclones with such intensity and rapid intensification over the Arabian Sea are uncommon. Biparjoy is classified as the second strongest cyclone to develop over the Arabian Sea in June, along with a 1998 cyclone. The strongest June cyclone in the Arabian Sea was Gonu in 2007. This underscores the significance of monitoring and understanding such weather events to ensure the safety and preparedness of coastal regions.