Cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’

‘Biparjoy’ is a Bengali word meaning disaster, strong winds and heavy rains propelled by ‘Biparjoy’ have caused massive devastation in the areas of Kutch and Saurashtra. Hundreds of electric poles that fell due to the storm resulted in over 1000 villages without electricity. According to State Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey, the state power company Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited was badly damaged by the storm and 5,120 electric poles were damaged. He said that at least 4,600 villages were without electricity but power supply has been restored in 3,580 villages. At least 600 trees were uprooted and traffic on three state highways was disrupted due to damage and fallen trees, officials said. At least 23 people were injured in incidents related to the cyclonic storm, while several houses were also damaged. A man and his son died while rescuing their goats stuck in an overflowing drain in Bhavnagar on Thursday amid heavy rains, he said, adding that since the district was not affected by the cyclonic storm, these deaths were counted against the cyclone. Not done in the related incidents. He said three state highways were closed due to damage and falling of trees. As per reports, a total of 600 trees have been uprooted. Nine pucca and 20 kutcha houses have been damaged, while two pucca and 474 kutcha houses have suffered partial damage. The official said that 65 huts have been destroyed, adding that the government is preparing an order to give compensation to those who have suffered losses in the cyclone. According to Relief Commissioner Pandey, over one lakh people were evacuated to safer places and this was one of the biggest such operations in the history of the state. With the improvement in the situation, they will now be sent back, he said.
Given the severity of Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’, due to the preventive measures taken by the state and central governments together, very little damage has been done. Apart from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Air Force Navy and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel also geared up for relief and rescue operations in the wake of ‘Biparjoy’ cyclone. . More than 94,000 people were evacuated from eight coastal districts in view of the possibility of heavy rains accompanied by strong winds. According to officials, besides 15 teams of NDRF and 12 teams of SDRF, personnel of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard and Border Security Force (BSF) were deployed for relief and rescue operations. The Indian Air Force was prepared to assist in the relief and rescue operations after the cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ hit. According to an official, the Army had deployed 27 relief columns at forward locations in Bhuj, Jamnagar, Gandhidham as well as Naliya, Dwarka and Mandvi. The Air Force had kept one helicopter each ready in Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Delhi. The Navy deployed 10-15 teams, each consisting of five divers and good swimmers, at Okha, Porbandar and Bakasur for rescue and relief.
Looking at the cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’, it can be said that man may reach the moon or the sun, but he is helpless in front of nature. The process of playing with nature is also one of the reasons for the occurrence of cyclonic storms. The need of the hour is that by understanding the messages being given by nature, we mold our lifestyle according to nature so that we can avoid the wrath of nature.

– Irwin Khanna (Chief Editor, Dainik Uttam Hindu)