As Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ approaches and is likely to make landfall near Jakhau port in the Kutch district off the Gujarat coast, evacuation efforts will pick up on June 13, with the government aiming to evacuate people within 10 km from the coast.
Authorities in the coastal districts of Kutch, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Morbi have started the process of shifting those living near the coastline. They said thousands of people residing in areas within 10 km from the shore will be moved to safer places from Tuesday.
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“VSCS (very severe cyclonic storm) Biparjoy lay centred at 0230 IST of the 13th June, 2023 over Northeast and adjoining Eastcentral Arabian Sea about 290 km southwest of Porbandar & 360 km south-southwest of Jakhau Port. To cross Saurashtra & Kutch near Jakhau Port by evening of 15th June as a VSCS,” India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest post.
Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey told reporters that the government is constantly working to ensure that there is no loss of life due to the weather phenomenon.
Mr. Pandey said the rescue operation will be carried out in two phases beginning from Tuesday, with people residing in 0 to 5 km from the seashore to be shifted first.
Thereafter, people living within a distance of 5 to 10 km from the coast will be moved to safer places, with priority to be given to children, pregnant women and the elderly.
A total of 12 teams each of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in the districts that are likely to be affected by the cyclone and arrangements have been made for the accommodation, food and medicine of the evacuated people.
At a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated by the State government, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“As evacuation started on Monday, Jakhau bore a deserted look. Fishing boats were lined up on the shore to ensure that they do not suffer much damage,” officials said.
Shipping activities at the country’s largest public sector port in Kandla were shut following the cyclone warning and around 3,000 people, including workers there, have been shifted to safer places, district administration officials said. Fishing activities have been totally suspended.
The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall in the districts of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar on June 15, when Biparjoy – which means disaster or calamity in the Bengali language – is expected to make the landfall.
It also said that a strong surface wind is likely to prevail under the influence of the cyclone during June 12-16.
The met department has warned of wind speeds of up to 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph from the morning of June 15.
“Sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough till the evening of Wednesday, and high to phenomenal thereafter till the noon of June 15 before improving,” it said.
“In view of the impending cyclone, the NDRF has deployed two additional teams in Mumbai as a precautionary measure,” an official said on Monday.
Action plan in place to tackle medical and health emergencies: Mandaviya
With cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ barrelling towards Kutch district in Gujarat, shelter homes are being set up with arrangements for rations and meals while an action plan is being put in place to tackle medical and health emergencies, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.
He said all labourers working at ports in coastal areas have been evacuated, ships have been anchored, and crew members shifted to safer places.
Mr. Mandaviya, who is at Bhuj in coastal Kutch district, and four other Union Ministers from Gujarat reached various districts that are likely to be impacted by the cyclone to help and coordinate with the state administration in rescue and evacuation measures.
He said better coordination among different state and Central agencies is vital to deal with the cyclone, which is likely to make landfall near Jakhau port in Kutch district on Thursday evening packing devastating potential and very strong winds.
“The administration has set up shelter homes with rations, meals, and facilities for pregnant women and children. An action plan was put in place yesterday (Monday) for medical and health emergencies,” Mr. Mandaviya told reporters.
He said the coordination among different agencies is vital to deal with disasters.
“When all state and Central departments, the broadcast department, and the Army work in tandem, they can achieve great results. India is known in the world for its disaster management,” he said.
Mr. Mandaviya recalled a few casualties had occurred during cyclones on the east and west coasts. “I am confident we will together face the crisis and save lives,” he added.
He said Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has prepared proper (disaster management) plans keeping in mind the cyclone hitting Kutch.
“I am here to help the state administration along with other Union ministers,” he added.
He said Union Minister Parshottam Rupala is at Devbhumi Dwarka, Darshana Jardosh at Porbandar, Devusinh Chauhan at Jamnagar and Mahendra Munjpara at Gir Somnath to help the state administration in planning to deal with the cyclone.
“Ports being among the worst-affected infrastructures during cyclones, all labourers working at ports have been evacuated keeping their safety in mind, ships have been anchored and crew members shifted to safer places,” Mr. Mandaviya said.
He said workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party are fanned out in affected villages and will appeal to local people to follow the directions of the administration.
According to the Met department, cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ is predicted to cross Saurashtra and Kutch coasts near Jakhau Port on the evening of June 15 as a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph. It is likely to impact Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts the most.
