Biparjoy’s fury subsides: Gujarat breathes relief amid destruction

The residual rumblings of the once ‘Very Severe’ Cyclone Biparjoy have lessened, as it succumbs to a weaker ‘Cyclonic Storm’ status, now located 30 kilometres west-northwest of Bhuj, according to an announcement by India Meteorological Department Director Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra on Friday.
Cyclone Biparjoy’s intensity will further deteriorate to a ‘Deep Depression’ by evening, with reduced wind speeds hovering between fifty and seventy kilometres per hour.
Biparjoy’s rampage and current trajectory
Having carved its destructive path across Gujarat, with Bhuj at the storm’s heart, Biparjoy is currently coursing towards the East Northeast, propelled by wind speeds of 80-90 kmph.
Its trajectory is set to take it into the adjoining areas of Rajasthan, carrying heavy to extreme rainfall, before the storm eventually loses its remaining strength.
Southern Rajasthan will bear the brunt of its rains until Saturday, with some areas predicted to experience extreme rainfall.
Bearing the brunt: Gujarat’s battle with Biparjoy
Biparjoy’s catastrophic visit was felt strongly in Gujarat’s Morbi district, where over 300 electric poles were reduced to debris, disrupting power supply to around 45 villages.
The storm swept across Jakhau between 10:30
pm and 11:30 pm on Thursday, leaving in its wake heavy rainfall and gusty winds
at speeds of over 115-120 kilometres per hour.
A coastal respite is expected by Friday afternoon as wind speeds drop to a manageable 35-45 kmph, as per IMD forecast.
Prime Minister’s intervention and state-wide impact
As Gujarat braced for Biparjoy’s landfall, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to assess the situation and the security arrangements in place, particularly for the wildlife inhabitants of the Gir Forest. Despite the cyclone’s disruptive performance, the toll on human lives remained remarkably low. While 23 people were injured, electricity supply was disrupted in approximately 1,000 villages, NDRF Director General Atul Karwal reported that no lives were lost

post-landfall, a testament to the coordinated efforts of the Gujarat administration and other agencies. Gujarat’s Minister Rushikesh Patel stated that Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in Bhuj town, resulting in the relocation of around 54,000 people. The cyclone caused damage to 80,000 electricity poles and left eight individuals injured. Despite the challenges, all lives were successfully saved. Efforts are underway to repair the affected electric poles and clear uprooted trees from the roads. The cyclone has moved northeastwards, and Gujarat is expected to experience heavy rainfall as Biparjoy weakens into a deep depression over the Saurashtra-Kutch region.
The storm’s wrath, however, had severe consequences for Kutch, a district that experienced the cyclone’s fury most acutely, with 40 percent of the state’s electricity disruptions and significant infrastructural damage to houses and trees. The region saw 500 ‘kutcha’ or thatched houses damaged and 800 trees uprooted. Karwal noted that the response teams are working tirelessly to restore normalcy and provide assistance to those affected.

Post-Biparjoy: A glimpse into the aftermath
Despite Biparjoy’s departure, the aftermath lingers. Power supply has been restored in 3,580 villages, while more than 1,000 others are still navigating the dark. The storm has also impeded traffic movement on three state highways due to damages and falling trees.
It’s estimated that Biparjoy, named after the Bengali term for disaster or calamity, damaged 5,120 electricity poles, leaving 4,600 villages without power. The state’s power utility, Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited, suffered a significant financial blow due to these damages.
As Gujarat begins its recovery journey from the wreckage left by Biparjoy, relief efforts are underway to bring the state back on its feet, and life, as it was known, back to its people.