Cyclone Biparjoy updates | June 16, 2023

More than one lakh people had been shifted to safer places before the cyclone’s landfall, state Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said.

“The cyclone caused extensive financial loss to the state power utility - Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited - with 5,120 electricity poles getting damaged. They are being restored. As many as 4,600 villages were rendered without power, but electricity supply has been restored in 3,580 villages,” he said.

Work to restore power supply in the remaining villages is underway, but inclement weather is posing hurdles in the task, Mr. Pandey said.

“Three state highways were closed as they suffered damages and saw felling of trees. A total of 581 trees were uprooted as per reports. As many as nine pucca and 20 kutcha houses were razed, and two pucca and 474 kutcha houses suffered partial damages,” he said.

Sixty-five thatched houses were destroyed, and the government was preparing an order for immediate compensation to those who have suffered losses due to the cyclone, the official added.

Pakistan was ‘largely spared’ the full force of Cyclone Biparjoy which weakened into a severe cyclonic storm on Friday after making landfall in Gujarat, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake in the Indian State.

People in Sindh’s coastal city of Keti, who braved the cyclone threat and a warning of monsoon rains, are now returning to their homes after the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the cyclone has weakened into a “severe cyclonic storm” from a “very severe cyclonic storm”.

“Pakistan was prepared but largely spared the full force. Sindh’s coastal areas, like Sujawal, were inundated by high sea levels but most people had been evacuated to safe ground,” Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman tweeted.

With strong winds continuing to lash Gujarat after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall yesterday evening, Bhuj SP Karan Singh Vaghela appealed people to only come out after the cyclone has completely calmed down.

Mr. Vaghela also informed that police personnel are stationed all over the district and are deployed everywhere.

The Meteorological Department has said that there is a possibility of light-moderate to heavy rain in some places in the Gwalior-Chambal region in the northern parts of Madhya Pradesh due to the impact of cyclone Biparjoy.

Ashfaq Hussain, Meteorologist, IMD Bhopal, said as of now, there is no such effect of the Biparjoy cyclone in Madhya Pradesh.

“After June 16 and 17 it will have its impact over Rajasthan and after June 18 and 19, when it becomes low pressure, there is a possibility of light moderate rain and heavy rain at some places in Gwalior Chambal region in the northern parts of Madhya Pradesh,” he said.

Two people lost their lives before Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in Gujarat. After the landfall, no lives have been lost, NDRF DG Atul Karwal said. Mr. Karwal also said that electricity supply has been disrupted in nearly 1000 villages while 800 trees have been uprooted.

At present, the NDRF DG added, it’s not raining heavily, except for in Rajkot in Gujarat.

Gujarat: NDRF Personnel conduct road clearance operation in Naliya after cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ made landfall along the Gujarat coast on June 15.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged AAP workers to help people affected by Cyclone Biparjoy.

In a tweet in Hindi, Mr. Kejriwal said, “There has been a huge loss due to the cyclone. I appeal to all AAP workers to get involved in relief work and help people.”

“No casualties have been reported so far. Some got injured and are currently undergoing treatment,” says Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Cyclone Biparjoy.

An NDRF team rescued two stranded people from the low-lying areas of Rupen Bandar in Dwarka district.

Cyclone Biparjoy lay about 30km WNW of Bhuj and will likely weaken further into a deep depression over Saurashtra & Kutch around evening of today, the IMD said.

Earthmoving machine has been called in to clear uprooted trees in Mandvi as rainfall continues in Kutch.

Waterlogging was witnessed in Gujarat’s Bhuj after cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ made landfall on June 15.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel assesses the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy at the State Emergency Operation Center in Gandhinagar.

Several areas of Jalore and Barmer districts in Rajasthan witnessed heavy rain due to Cyclone Biparjoy, which moved towards the desert state following its landfall in Gujarat, officials said on June 16.

A meteorological department official said 60-70 mm rains occurred at a few places on June 15 night and extremely heavy rainfall is likely to occur in both the districts and adjoining areas on June 16.

The department has sounded a “red” alert for Jalore and Barmer. More than 200 mm rainfall may occur in the areas where the alert has been sounded.

There is no report of loss of human lives in the Kutch district, till now, Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said. Speaking to ANI, Mr. Patel also said that road clearance work is underway and Mundra, Jakhua, Koteshwar, Lakphat and Naliya are still witnessing rainfall and high wind speed.

Several trees have been uprooted due to strong winds in Jamnagar.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has undertaken relief and rescue operations in Gujarat after cyclone Biparjoy left a trail of destruction in the State. NDRF personnel are conducting road-clearing operations at Lakhpat and other areas in Gujarat.

In an update, the NDRF said that 23 people have been injured and 24 animals have died so far due to cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat. In addition, 2 people lost their lives before the cyclone made landfall.

Rain continues to lash Mandvi in Gujarat’s Kutch district today after cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ made landfall on June 15.

Seventeen SDRF teams have been deployed in Rajasthan to deal with the impact of very severe cyclone Biparjoy which is now moving towards the State. Biparjoy is expected to weaken into a deep depression by today evening.

Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma held a meeting with officials of various departments and district collectors to review the preparations to deal with the effects of the cyclone.

A meteorological department official said in the meeting that under the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy, a deep depression will hit Jalore and Barmer on June 16, bringing heavy rains and thunderstorms with wind speeds up to 50 to 60 km per hour.

Ms. Sharma said 17 SDRF teams have been deployed and 30 teams are in reserve and directed the officers to be present at their headquarters to deal with the situation.

23 animals have been killed and heavy rains coupled with gusty winds brought down over 524 trees and electric poles at various places in Gujarat, snapping the supply of power to around 940 villages, officials said.

After cyclone Biparjoy made landfall on Gujarat’s coastal area on Thursday, trees were uprooted and hoardings fell in Dwarka, as strong winds hit the district.

In a fresh update, the IMD said that Cyclone Biparjoy is gradually weakening into a cyclonic storm and will further weaken into a deep depression by today evening.

A cattle-rearer duo of father and son died while trying to save their goats stuck in a flooded ravine in Bhavnagar district on June 15.

Howling winds yanked hundreds of trees, damaged communication towers, toppled electricity poles, flung solid objects, and raised dusty squalls that virtually resulted in zero visibility in some areas.

The eye of the cyclone, which was churning across the Arabian Sea for more than 10 days, was located around 20 km southwest of Jakhau port, 120 km northwest of Devbhumi Dwarka and 50 km west-southwest of Naliya.

While approaching the Gujarat coast, the cyclone moved with a speed of 13 kmph. During the landfall, the wind speed was 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph, the IMD said.

The state government said it has deployed 631 medical teams and 504 ambulances in the eight affected districts.

Several trees have been uprooted in Gujarat’s Kutch district after Cyclone Biparjoy battered the State with strong winds.

High tidal waves continued a day after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in Gujarat.

Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat with a wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph as heavy rains lashed the coastal region, where several areas plunged into darkness due to power cuts and a large number of trees, electric poles and hoardings got uprooted.

A relief and rescue operation was underway with multiple teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed in the affected districts, while and Armed Forces were on standby for any emergency situation, officials said.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the situation and the rescue and relief operation at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar.

The cyclone Biparjoy, which had been brewing over the Arabian Sea for several days, has made landfall on Gujarat’s coastal area has affected the trains services due to which around 99 trains running through, originating or terminating in Biparjoy-affected areas of Gujarat, will remain cancelled or short-terminated, Western Railway said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and took stock of the situation after the cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ made landfall in Gujarat’s coastal areas on June 15.

PM Modi also asked about the details of the safety arrangements for wild animals including lions in Gir Forest.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also held a live meeting at the ‘war room’ on Thursday. He held discussions over railway tracks, OHE (overhead equipment) and other issues. He gave the officials directions to remain strict over the matters of security and protection. He also spoke with the officials regarding railway stations in Gujarat and Maharashtra, in the wake of the ‘Biparjoy’ cyclone.

Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ is expected to weaken further today and move into a ‘depression’ in the subsequent evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today in the wee hours.

IMD officials said that the ‘severe’ cyclonic storm Biparjoy lay centred over the Saurashtra-Kutch region and is expected to move northeastwards, adding that heavy rains are expected in Rajasthan on Friday.

“The severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy lay centred over the Saurashtra-Kutch region, 30 km north of Naliya as of 0230 IST today,” IMD said in a tweet.

Heavy rains and gusty winds at a speed of over 115-120 kilometres per hour created havoc in Gujarat’s Morbi district, damaging over 300 electric poles, leading to power outage in around 45 villages, after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in coastal areas of the State on June 15.

Officials with the Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) said that efforts are underway to restore power in nine of the affected villages. As per the officials, two power stations in the Maliya Taluka of Morbi have been shut down due to the cyclonic storm.