Authorities in the coastal districts of Gujarat, including Kutch, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Junagadh, and Morbi, have initiated evacuation measures as the very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy draws closer to the region, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The intensity of rainfall in Gujarat is expected to gradually intensify as the cyclone approaches the coast.
Currently, the coastal regions of Saurashtra and Kutch are expected to receive light to moderate rainfall, with heavy showers in some locations. However, the intensity of the rainfall is expected to increase on June 15, resulting in heavy to very heavy rainfall in several areas, including Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi, and Junagarh districts. According to the IMD bulletin, isolated heavy rain will fall in the remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat on June 15, followed by light to moderate rain in most places and heavy to very heavy rain in isolated areas of north Gujarat and adjoining south Rajasthan on June 16.
Cyclone “Biparjoy” is projected to move nearly northwards until the morning of June 14, after which it will veer towards the north-northeast and make landfall near Saurashtra and Kutch, close to the border of Pakistan, between the Mandvi area of Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan on the evening of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm. The cyclone is expected to strike the coastal areas with maximum sustained winds of 125-135 kmph, gusting up to 150 kmph.
Wind speeds are increasing in areas from Porbandar to Kachchh, according to Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of IMD, and would reach 65-75 kmph by tomorrow. He went on to say that on June 15, wind speeds in Gujarat’s Dwarka, Jamnagar, Kachchh, and Morbi districts could reach 125-135 kmph, with gusts up to 150 kmph, posing a significant threat.
Cyclone Biparjoy’s quick intensification has been described as rare and dangerous by experts. The cyclone was centred over the northeast and bordering the east-central Arabian Sea as of the most recent update, moving north-northwest at a pace of 10 kmph. It was around 300 kilometres southwest of Porbandar, 290 kilometres south-southwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, 340 kilometres south-southwest of Jakhau Port, and 350 kilometres south-southwest of Naliya.
The IMD has issued wind warnings, stating that squally winds with speeds reaching 50-60 kmph and gusting up to 70 kmph will persist along the coasts of Saurashtra and Kutch for the next 24 hours. By the morning of June 14, the wind speed is expected to increase further, reaching gale wind speeds of 65-75 kmph with gusts up to 85 kmph along the coasts of Porbandar and Devbhoomi Dwarka districts.