Cyclone Biparjoy wreaked havoc in the coastal regions of Gujarat, leaving a trail of destruction and impacting the lives of thousands of people. With its powerful winds and heavy rainfall, the cyclone uprooted trees, caused power outages, and led to several injuries. Here are ten updates on the situation:
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Landfall and Intensity: Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau as a highly intense cyclonic storm around 6:30 pm on Thursday. It unleashed wind speeds ranging from 115 to 125 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 140 kmph.
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Power Outages: The strong winds caused extensive damage to electric wires and poles, resulting in power outages in 45 villages of Maliya tehsil. While power has been restored in 11 villages, over 300 electric poles were broken in coastal and desert areas. The Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd. (PGVCL) is working tirelessly to restore power to the remaining rural areas says J C Goswami, executive engineer, PGVCL in Morbi to the news agency.
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Prime Minister's Concern: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to assess the situation. PM Modi also inquired about the safety arrangements for wild animals, particularly the lions in Gir Forest.
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Weakening of the Cyclone: After crossing the coastline near Jakhau, the cyclonic storm gradually weakened. By 2:30 am on Friday, it had transformed into a cyclonic storm with winds clocking at 100 kilometres per hour, accompanied by gusts of up to 110 km/hour, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
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Impact on Wildlife and Vegetation: As a result of the cyclone, 23 animals lost their lives, 524 trees fell, and electric poles were also toppled in various locations. Consequently, 940 villages were left without electricity, exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected communities.
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Damage in Mandvi: Mandvi town witnessed a complete power blackout due to the cyclone. The strong winds uprooted numerous trees along the Jakhau-Mandvi road and within the town itself. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported so far, according to District Collector Amit Arora.
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Disruption in Rail Services: Western Railway announced the cancellation or short-termination of approximately 99 trains passing through or originating from the areas affected by Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat. This measure was taken to ensure the safety of passengers and mitigate further risks.
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Evacuation Efforts: The Gujarat government successfully relocated around 1 lakh people from coastal and low-lying areas to safer shelters. These proactive measures were implemented to minimize the potential harm caused by the cyclone.
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Pakistan's Preparations: Sherry Rehman, Pakistan's climate change minister, reported that approximately 82,000 individuals had been evacuated from southeastern coastal areas in anticipation of "an unprecedented cyclone."
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Risk of Flooding: Storm surges up to four meters were anticipated, raising concerns about possible flooding in Karachi, home to approximately 20 million people. Authorities were on high alert and taking necessary precautions to protect lives and minimize the impact of the cyclone on the city.
The aftermath of Cyclone Biparjoy serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of nature and the need for robust disaster preparedness and response strategies to safeguard vulnerable communities. Efforts are underway to restore normalcy, provide relief to the affected population, and rebuild the affected regions.
