Cyclone Biparjoy may cause extensive damage in Gujarat: IMD

The India Meteorological Department IMD on Tuesday said the Cyclone Biparjoy has extensive damaging potential and is likely to impact Gujarats Kutch Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts the most PTI reportedBiparjoy weakened from an extremely severe cyclone to a very severe cyclone on Tuesday It is predicted to cross Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat and the adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near the Jakhau Port Gujarat around the evening of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125150 kmphIts damaging potential could be extensive IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said at a press conferenceThe 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 15We wont be surprised if these areas record more than 25 cm of rainfall Usually they do not receive such intense precipitation at this time of the year Therefore there is a risk of flooding in the lowlying areas he cautionedRajkot Morbi and Junagarh may receive heavy to very heavy rainfallWinds gusting up to 145 kmph are predicted to batter all these districts on June 15Also readMira Road brutal murder Last rites of chopped remains performed by sistersGusty winds and rain may cause extensive damage to standing crops houses roads electricity and communication poles and flooding of escape routesUp to sixmetrehigh tidal waves are likely to inundate lowlying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch coasts We have recommended evacuation of the population in such areas and action is being taken Mohapatra saidSea conditions are phenomenal waves could be 10 to 14 metres high in the northeast and the adjoining eastcentral Arabian Sea The IMD has recommended total suspension of all activities including oil exploration ship movement and fishing until June 15The Met office has recommended close monitoring of the situation in the Gir National Park the only known habitat of Asiatic lions in the world and other famous places such as the Somnath templeBiparjoy 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 predictionsIt has also sustained its strength for a longerthannormal duration which meteorologists attribute to an unusually warm Arabian SeaThe IMD data shows Biparjoy is on course to become the cyclone with the longest lifespan in the Arabian SeaThe life period of Cyclone Biparjoy which developed over the southeast Arabian Sea at 530 am on June 6 is about eight days and nine hours so farThe extremely severe Cyclone Kyarr of 2019 over the Arabian Sea had a life of nine days and 15 hours It developed over the eastcentral Arabian Sea had multiple recurvatures and weakened over the southwest Arabian SeaThe very severe cyclonic storm Gaja of 2018 over the southeast Bay of Bengal had a life span of nine days and 15 hours It crossed the southern peninsular region emerged in the Arabian Sea and weakened there the IMD saidScientists say cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea have been intensifying rapidly and retaining their intensity for a longer duration due to climate changeAccording to a study titled Changing Status of Tropical Cyclones over the North Indian Ocean the frequency duration and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea have increased by about 20 per cent in the postmonsoon period and 40 per cent in the premonsoon periodThere has been a 52 per cent increase in the number of cyclones in the Arabian Sea while very severe cyclones have increased by 150 per cent PTI