Moderate flash flood risk is likely in Saurashtra, Kutch and the extreme northwest Gujarat region in next 24 hours
Food packets carrying the photo of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's wife, Rivaba. Photo: Himanshu Bhayani Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Biporjoy made landfall on the coast of Kutch at 6.30 pm on the evening of June 15, 2023. It left a trail of destruction in the region including flooding an inundating low-lying areas.
Fisher colonies along the Saurashtra-Kutch coastline have either been destroyed or water-logged, due to heavy rains, storm surges and/or cyclonic winds.
Additional temporary shelter homes have been added on a war footing across the districts of Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar and Kutch. Several non-profits have mobilised assistance such as food packets, basic medication and mattresses to those in shelter homes.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted in its Flash Flood Warning Bulletin released at 12.55 pm on June 16:
Moderate to high flash flood threat observed over few watersheds & neighbourhoods of Saurashtra & Kutch Met Sub-divisions during the last six hours.
The districts where this was observed included Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Morvi. It added that a ‘persistent flash flood threat’ would hover over the regions of Saurashtra and Kutch till 5.30 pm on June 16:
Moderate to High flash flood threat likely over few watersheds & neighborhoods of Assam & Meghalaya and Saurashtra & Kutch Met Sub-Divisions during next 6 hours.
Moderate flash flood risk is likely in Saurashtra and Kutch and extreme northwest Gujarat Region in next 24 hours, according to IMD. Surface runoff may occur with persistent rainfall, it added.
Biporjoy lay about 40 kilometres north of Bhuj and 250 km west-southwest of Deesa in Banaskantha district at 11.30 am on June 16.
It was likely to weaken further into a deep depression over Saurashtra and Kutch around June 16 night, IMD said.
After Kutch and North Gujarat, the cyclone is expected to move on to the Marwar region and bring heavy rains to the Jodhpur, Barmer and Jalore districts in Rajasthan.
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