On Tuesday 13th June, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the highly intense cyclonic storm ‘Cyclone Biparjoy’ has weakened and transformed into a very severe cyclonic storm.
The IMD stated that Cyclone Biparjoy was moving in a northward direction at a speed of five kilometers per hour and is centered around 290 km southwest of Porbandar in Gujarat.
RED ALERT
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert as cyclone Biparjoy approaches the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts.
The situation has prompted the evacuation of over 37,700 individuals from eight coastal districts in Gujarat, which are expected to bear the brunt of the cyclone.
GOVERNMENT ACTION
In a meeting to assess precautionary measures, Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed the Gujarat government to make arrangements for the restoration of essential services, including electricity, telecommunications, healthcare, and drinking water, in the event of any damage caused by the cyclone.
BIPARJOY NAME
The name “Biparjoy” was bestowed upon a tropical cyclone by Bangladesh, and it signifies ‘calamity’ or ‘disaster’.
In 2020, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) countries, as per the IMD website, adopted this name for tropical cyclones originating in the North Indian Ocean, encompassing the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
CYCLONE BIPARJOY ROUTE
The approaching Cyclone Biporejoy brings both relief and concern to the region. Fortunately, the storm was not expected to make landfall in the sea off Gujarat. Instead, Cyclone Biporejoy is projected to move toward Pakistan.
On June 10, the storm is predicted to pass through Gujarat, causing certain impacts in the area. However, the direct landfall is expected to occur in Pakistan on June 12th.
