Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 15: All armed forces including the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard besides the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have made necessary preparation to provide assistance to the local people of Gujarat as the landfall process for Cyclone Biparjoy started near Jakhau port in Kutch district on Thursday evening powering winds at 100 kmph and bringing heavy rain on Gujarat coast. The entire process is expected to continue till midnight.
“Indian Army has deployed more than 27 relief columns across Gujarat at Bhuj, Jamnagar, Gandhidham as well as at the forward locations of Mandvi and Dwarka. Army authorities have also jointly started relief operations along with civil administration as well as with the NDRF teams”, Ministry of Defence Spokesperson in Gujarat, Wing Commander N. Manish said. More than 90,000 people were evacuated to safety from the coastal regions in Gujarat.
The coastal regions of Pakistan were also on high alert with over 67,000 people being evacuated to safer places in the southern Sindh province ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy’s possible landfall.
“The landfall process has started. The cyclone is still 70 km away and is moving towards the coast. The cyclone will cross the sea and be overland by midnight,” chief of Indian Meteorological Department M Mohapatra said.
“Dense convective clouds have entered Kutch and Devbhumi Dwarka districts and therefore, the landfall process has commenced. It will continue until midnight,” Dr Mohapatra said. The eye of the cyclone is around 50 km in diametre. Biparjoy is marching ahead with a speed of 13-14 kmph. Thus, it will take around five hours for the wall cloud and the eye to completely cross into the land, he said. Biparjoy has been classified as a Category 3 “very severe cyclonic storm” and is likely to power winds moving at 115-125 kmph, the weather office has said.
Gujarat’s Bhuj and Kutch is witnessing strong wind and high tide has hit the coastal area. Heavy rainfall and strong winds have hit Dwarka, Mandvi, and Morbi. High tidal waves and gusty winds are continuing in Mumbai.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has chaired a meeting in Gandhinagar to review preparations for the cyclone. Nearly one lakh people have been evacuated and moved to shelters ahead of the cyclone’s landfall. These include people from nearly 20 villages living within 10 km of the coast.
Eighteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 12 of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 115 teams of state road and building department, and 397 of the state electricity department are on the ground in coastal districts.
NDRF Director General Atul Karwal said the force was prepared to conduct rescue work following the cyclone’s landfall. He said neighbouring Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka have also sought help if they are affected. “There is a possibility of south Rajasthan being affected,” he said.
The Defence Ministry has said the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard have made necessary preparations to provide assistance to the local people. Fishing activities have been suspended till Friday, ports are shut and ships are anchored. Western Railways said 76 trains have been cancelled as a precautionary measure. Two famous temples — Dwarkadhish Temple in Devbhumi Dwarka and Somnath Temple in Gir Somnath district — remained closed to devotees on Thursday.
Commercial operations at Gujarat’s Jamnagar airport have been suspended till Friday. Airport authorities said diesel and petrol required to operate the airport in an emergency have been stored.
Rear Admiral Kunal Rajkumar, Chief Staff Officer, OPS, Western Naval command said, “We’re expecting winds of approximately 130 km per hour, with heavy rainfall in the northern Gujarat area, naval stations in the Gujarat area are ready with over 25 specialist teams. These teams comprise diverse medical specialists, good swimmers along with equipment like portable chain sets, cutting tools that are very useful in removal of debris and fallen trees.”
The `wall cloud’ region of cyclone Biparjoy touched the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat on Thursday evening as it headed for landfall near Jakhau port. The cyclone, which moved east-north eastward towards Gujarat coast with a speed of 12 kmph in the past six hours, made the landfall near Jakhau port between Saurashtra-Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts, the IMD has said.
The Indian Coast Guard said 15 Ships were kept ready in multiple configurations, seven aircraft in SAR role for rescue operations in the sea, 23 disaster relief teams with 29 gemini boats, 50 OBMs (Out Board Motor) for boats 1000 lifejackets and 200 lifebuoys, formed up in the ICG stations for aid to civil authorities.
As cyclone Biparjoy threatened to cripple communication networks after landfall on the Gujarat coast, authorities have turned to HAM radio for smooth exchange of information.
Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) has deployed six HAM radio teams, two of them in Kutch, and mobile units for seamless communication after Biparjoy hits the shore near Jakhau port.
HAM radio is considered a reliable mode of messaging during emergencies when wirelines, mobile phones and other traditional terrestrial means of communication fail. Also known as ‘amateur radio’, HAM radio involves the use of radio frequency spectrum for non-commercial exchange of messages.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is supporting the government of Pakistan’s efforts to prepare for and respond to the public health impact of Cyclone Biparjoy. WHO has prepositioned essential emergency medicines in Sindh, including oral rehydration salts (ORS), aqua tabs, and essential medicine, to assist vulnerable communities affected by the cyclone by ensuring uninterrupted access to health care and limiting the spread of infectious diseases.
The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked media organisations, including television channels, on Thursday to take “abundant precaution” while deploying their personnel to cover Cyclone Biparjoy to ensure their safety. The government, the advisory said, was “deeply concerned” that such ground reporting may risk the lives of the personnel deployed.
UAE astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi captured the formation of Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea from space. The Arab astronaut, who is currently at the International Space Station, posted breath-taking pictures and a video of the formation of the Cyclone.