Gujarat has begun evacuation from Tuesday in view of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) alert that the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy will cross Saurashtra and Kutch near Jakhau Port on Thursday.
The latest IMD alert read: "Biparjoy lay centered 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."
The cyclone will bring with it winds gusting up to 150 kilometres per hour. Gujarat will also witness heavy-to-very heavy rainfall at a few places. Extremely heavy rainfall is predicted in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar on Thursday.
While storm surge of about 2-3 metres above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate low-lying areas, 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.
With the landfall expected on Thursday, people residing in villages located within 10km from the coast in the Kutch-Saurashtra districts of Gujarat will be evacuated. Over 7,500 people residing in low-lying areas near the coast have already been shifted to safer places.
This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of the ministries, central agencies and the Gujarat government to deal with the situation.
The officials have been instructed to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health and drinking water, and that they are restored immediately in the event of damage. Modi also directed to ensure the safety of animals and the 24x7 functioning of control rooms, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
According to Gujarat Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey, evacuation will be carried out in two phases beginning Tuesday with people residing 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. Priority will be given to children, pregnant women and the elderly, Pandey told reporters.
"Some 3,000 people, especially fishermen and labourers working at a port, were shifted in Kandla. Residents of some slums near the sea have also been moved in Mandvi. Around 23,000 people residing in villages within a radius of 10 km from the coast will be moved to (makeshift) shelter homes from Tuesday," Kutch collector Amit Arora said.
Evacuation at rigs
The Indian Coast Guard said its regional headquarters has undertaken an operation to evacuate personnel from the oil drilling ship 'Key Singapore'. The rig is 25 miles off Devbhumi Dwarka and the evacuation is being done by advanced light helicopter MK III for the rescue ops.
Shipping activities at Deendayal Port at Kandla have ceased, resulting in lining up of containers. A warning signal hoisted there.
Trains short-terminated
The Western Railway on Monday short-terminated more than 50 trains heading to coastal areas of Gujarat in view of 'Biparjoy'. Besides, the North Western Railway (NWR) has also cancelled some train services as the cyclonic storm Biparjoy' is likely to enter southwest Rajasthan on June 16.
"Keeping in view the safety and security in view of the cyclonic storm Biparjoy in the Bay of Bengal, train services are being cancelled/partially cancelled by the Railways," the NWR said in a statement.
As for Western Railway, it is taking various measures including setting up disaster management rooms, help desks, and keeping relief trains ready. The wind speed is being monitored at five locations in Bhavnagar division, at eight sites in Rajkot and at three spots in Ahmedabad division on an hourly basis and station masters have been instructed to regulate or stop trains when the wind velocity exceeds 50 kmph, as per the release.
According to IMD, 'Biparjoy' is likely to make landfall near the Jakhau port in Kutch district on Thursday afternoon as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' with maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 kilometres per hour.
"As many as 56 trains heading to Gandhidham, Veraval, Okha, Porbandar in coastal Gujarat have been short-terminated at Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surendranagar. Around 95 trains are being proposed for cancellation between June 13 to June 15," the release said.
