Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting to review the preparedness for cyclone 'Biparjoy' with the disaster management ministers of states and Union Territories, which are likely to see an impact due to the cyclone. Speaking on the preparations to tackle the storm, Shah said that India is prepared to face it and foolproof security arrangements are being made at all the coastal regions where an impact of the cyclone would be more visible. Shah said that states, where nuclear power stations are being set up, have been given strict protocols to be followed in emergency situations.
"In the last nine years, the Central Govt and States have achieved a lot in this area. Nobody can deny it. But we can't stay content because disasters have changed their form and their frequency & intensity have increased. We will have to do more extensive planning...," Shah said, as quoted by ANI.
Shah will also hold a meeting with Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and other officials to discuss preparedness at 3 PM.
Meanwhile, IMD DG said that wind speed may reach as high as 125-135 Kmph going up to 150 Kmph in Gujarat when the landfall takes place.
"On 15th June, wind speed in Dwarka, Jamnagar, Kachchh and Morbi districts of Gujarat will be around 125-135 kmph and gusting to 150 kmph, it could have extensive damaging potential," IMD DG said, as quoted by ANI.
This comes as the storms move towards Gujarat coasts. He will later chair another meeting with the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel and MPs from eight likely to be affected districts, to review the preparedness to deal with cyclone Biparjoy.
Delhi | Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a meeting of Disaster Management ministers of States/Union Territories. pic.twitter.com/IlKJiO0sId
Gujarat is bracing itself to face the impact of impending cyclone Biparjoy as rough sea conditions and strong winds were witnessed in Dwarka.
Very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy lay centered at 02:30 IST over the Northeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea about 290 km southwest of Porbandar & 360 km south-southwest of Jakhau Port is set to cross Saurashtra & Kutch near Jakhau Port by the evening of June 15.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued an Orange alert for Saurashtra and Kutch coasts in Gujarat as the cyclonic storm Biparjoy is set to cross the Jakhau Port in Gujarat by the evening of June 15 as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm. Under its impact, light showers were witnessed in the Naliya town of Kachchh district in Gujarat.
Meanwhile, Police have been deployed near the coast in Gujarat's Navsari to prevent people from venturing into the sea.
Around 50 Indian Coast Guard soldiers were evacuated from Dwarka coast near Okha in Gujarat earlier this morning through ALH Dhruv helicopters.
"50 personnel have been evacuated today morning from jack-up rig 'Key Singapore' operating off Dwarka coast near Okha, Gujarat by the Indian Coast Guard ALH Dhruv helicopters," ICG officials said, as quoted by ANI.
Meanwhile, the North Western Railway (NWR) has cancelled some train services as the cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ is likely to enter southwest Rajasthan on June 16, officials said on Monday.
"Keeping in view the safety and security in view of the cyclonic storm Biprajoy in the Bay of Bengal, train services are being cancelled/partially cancelled by the Railways," the NWR said in a statement, as quoted by PTI.
Radheshyam Sharma, in charge of the Jaipur Meteorological Centre, said that the cyclonic storm Biparjoy is likely to weaken and enter south-western Rajasthan as a depression on June 16.