New Delhi: Cyclone Biparjoy, which developed in the Arabian Sea, is expected to make landfall near the northern Gujarat coast on June 15. It is likely to impact Gujarat's Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts the most, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.
Biparjoy, the first cyclone in the Arabian Sea this year, underwent rapid intensification on June 6 and 7, escalating from a cyclonic circulation to a very severe cyclonic storm in just 48 hours, defying earlier predictions.
The cyclone could lead to extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm) at isolated places in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar and Porbandar districts from June 13 to June 15.
Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. Winds gusting up to 145 kmph are predicted to batter all these districts on June 15.
Here are some of the other deadliest cyclones that have hit India before Biparjoy:
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas — 2021
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas was a powerful cyclonic storm that impacted parts of India in May 2021. It originated in the Bay of Bengal and made landfall in Odisha and West Bengal, causing significant damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and displacing thousands of people.
The cyclone brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges, leading to widespread flooding in coastal areas.
Cyclone Tauktae – 2021
Cyclone Tauktae was a cyclonic storm that formed in the Arabian Sea and intensified rapidly, reaching the category of a very severe cyclonic storm. The cyclone caused extensive damage to the coastal regions of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa.
Tauktae resulted in at least 169 deaths in India and left another 81 people missing. The storm displaced over 200,000 people in Gujarat alone.
Cyclone Amphan – 2020
Cyclone Amphan was a powerful and extremely severe cyclonic storm that struck parts of India and Bangladesh in May 2020. It originated in the Bay of Bengal and rapidly intensified, becoming one of the strongest cyclones on record in the region.
Cyclone Amphan caused widespread devastation in the Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha, as well as in parts of Bangladesh. The storm resulted in the loss of many lives and caused significant displacement of people.
The affected areas witnessed large-scale destruction of houses, uprooting of trees, and disruption of power and communication networks
Cyclone Fani – 2019
Cyclone Fani made landfall in Odisha, causing widespread destruction in coastal areas. The cyclone killed at least 89 people in eastern India and Bangladesh.
Cyclone Ockhi – 2017
Cyclone Ockhi was a tropical cyclone that affected parts of Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives in November-December 2017. It originated in the southeastern Arabian Sea and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.
The cyclone killed 365 persons, according to information shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Parliament.
Ockhi claimed 203 lives in TN, taking into account those who died and those who were missing and presumed dead. Kerala reported 60 dead and 102 missing, all of whom were presumed dead by the state government, reported Hindustan Times.
Odisha Cyclone – 1999
The Odisha Cyclone of 1999, also known as Cyclone 05B or Super Cyclone, was an extremely severe cyclonic storm that struck the state of Odisha. The cyclone originated from a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal and rapidly intensified into a super cyclone, with wind speeds reaching up to 260 km/h (160 mph).
The human toll of the cyclone was immense, with an estimated death toll exceeding 10,000 people.
Bhola Cyclone – 1970
The Bhola Cyclone, also known as the Great Bhola Cyclone, was a devastating tropical cyclone that struck the region of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Bengal in November 1970. It remains one of the deadliest cyclones in recorded history.
The cyclone resulted in the loss of around 3-5 lakh lives, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters of the 20th century.