Cyclone Biparjoy Nears Gujarat Coast, Delays Flights In Mumbai; PM Modi To Hold Review Meeting Today

Bhubaneswar: While cyclone Biparjoy has intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Gujarat’s Saurashtra and Kutch coasts with an expected impact over the state and Pakistan in coming days.

The weather agency has predicted that the storm would move slightly east towards the northern Gujarat coast and make landfall on June 15.

“The extremely severe cyclonic storm over eastcentral Arabian Sea moved northwards with a speed of 5 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 5.30 am over the eastcentral and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea, about 340 km southwest of Porbandar, 380 km south-southwest of Devbhumi Dwarka, 460 km south of Jakhau Port, 470 km south-southwest of Naliya and 640 km south of Karachi (Pakistan). It is very likely to move nearly northward till June 14 morning, then move northnortheastwards and cross Saurashtra & Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph,” the Met said in its morning bulletin on Monday.

Due to cyclonic activities, sea conditions along and off Saurashtra and Kutch coasts will likely remain “rough to very rough” till Wednesday, and very rough to high on Thursday. The IMD has asked fishermen in the coastal areas to remain alert till June 15. “Heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places over Gujarat region on June 15. Heavy to very heavy rainfall also very likely at isolated places over Saurashtra & Kutch on June 14 and extremely heavy rainfall on June 15,” it further said.

Gale wind speed reaching 165-175 kmph gusting to 195 kmph is likely to prevail over northeast and adjoining eastcentral Arabian Sea becoming 145-155 kmph gusting to 175 kmph from night. Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely over adjoining areas of westcentral Arabian Sea. Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph over Saurashtra & Kutch coasts on Monday.

The cyclone will start to weaken after 24 hours because of lower temperatures in the northern parts of Arabian Sea. After 48 hours, it will weaken further but retain its intensity of a severe cyclonic storm. “The system is likely to skirt Saurashtra Coast and it will come abeam Okha, Jamnagar, and Porbandar at about a distance of more than 100 km from the coast. Then, the system is expected to recurve towards the extreme northern parts of Kutch, around the Delta region, and may strike very close to Naliya, around June 15. After crossing inland, it will weaken due to the terrain,” private weather forecaster Skymet said.

According to India-based Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC), it may cause 2-3 metre storm surges, destroy thatched houses and damage to pucca houses and roads, flooding, widespread damage to standing crops, plantations and orchards, and disruption of railways, powerlines and signalling systems in the northern and western coastal districts of Gujarat.

Meanwhile, several flights in Mumbai were delayed while some were forced to abort landing due to inclement weather triggered by cyclone Biparjoy. Several parts of Mumbai and Maharashtra had witnessed rainfall and strong winds as the intensity of the storm increased last night. “IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Inclement weather conditions and the temporary closure of Runway 09/27 at the Mumbai airport, in addition to other consequential factors beyond our control have resulted in delays and cancellation of some of our flights. We regret the inconvenience caused to our guests, as we make all effort to minimise the disruptions,” Air India tweeted.

The Gujarat government is deploying NDRF and SDRF teams in coastal areas and setting up shelters in six districts. The authorities have also started evacuating people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a high-level meeting to review the situation, news agency PTI reported.