Cyclone Biparjoy: Gujarat on High Alert, Tidal Waves in Mumbai, and Landfall Prediction

Cyclone Biparjoy turns into an extremely cyclonic form, and may make landfall on 15 June by going over Gujarat and Pakistan’s coast. Alert issues in affected areas.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: June 12, 2023

Cyclone Biparjoy is moving at a speed of 8 kmph north-eastwards and currently over the east-central Arabian Sea over the last six hours. It will supposedly make landfall on Thursday as a very severe cyclonic storm after continuing its north-northeastward movement. On Sunday morning, it assumed the form of an extremely cyclonic storm. The IMD (India Meteorological Department) has said that the cyclone may cross over Gujarat and reach the coasts of Pakistan on 15 June.

Some reports claim that the between Kutch and Porbandar is where the landfall location may rest. However, cyclone Biparjoy’s landfall impact may reduce on 15 or 16 June. According to D.S. Pai, a senior scientist at the IMD, it is possible to understand the exact place of the landfall in the coming days. Already the officials in Kandla at the Deendayal Port Authority, Kutch, Gujarat are relocating people to temporary shelters from the low-lying areas.

Om Prakash in Kandla and the Public Relations Officer of Deendayal Port Authority has informed that six ships departed from the port, and soon 11 more will also leave for aid and rehabilitation purpose. Until the 14th morning, the cyclone may move toward the north and swing to the north-northeast. It will then reach adjoining coasts of Pakistan between Gujarat’s Mandvi and Pakistan’s Karachi after crossing Saurashtra and Kutch on 15^th June at noon.

The IMD tweeted that at this stage, cyclone Biparjoy is likely to turn into a very severe storm and gain 125-135 kmph as the maximum sustained speed, gusting to 150 kmph. Because of the severe cyclonic storm on Monday, high tide waves were witnessed in Mumbai. The weather office has asked to suspend all fishing operations in the areas till 15 June. They have also advised fishermen not to go into the north and central Arabian Sea from 12 to 15 June, until 15 June along and off the Saurashtra-Kutch coasts.

In Pakistan, the NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) has indicated a high alert and asked the authorities to take necessary steps regarding Cyclone Biparjoy, as it has now become an ESCS (Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm). Thus, it is almost assured that the cyclone on Tuesday will affect the southeastern and southern areas of Sindh. The NDMA has asked the authorities to inform coastal region people in the local language to create awareness about the weather conditions and ask them not to go to the shorelines.