**Cyclone Biparjoy Updates**


* Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau port in Gujarat on the evening of June 15, 2023.

* The cyclone is a "very severe" cyclonic storm with winds gusting up to 167 kilometers per hour.

* Heavy rains and strong winds have lashed the coastal areas of Gujarat, causing widespread damage.

* At least 10 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in the cyclone.

* Thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal areas.

* The cyclone has also caused widespread damage in Pakistan.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Gujarat and a yellow alert for Maharashtra. The IMD has warned of heavy rains, strong winds, and high tides in the affected areas.

The government of Gujarat has deployed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to help with relief and rescue operations. The NDRF has set up relief camps in the affected areas.

The government of Gujarat has also announced a compensation of ₹500,000 for the families of those who have been killed in the cyclone.

The cyclone is expected to weaken and move away from the coast by the morning of June 16. However, the IMD has warned that there is still a risk of heavy rains and strong winds in the affected areas.

**Here are some safety tips for people in the affected areas:**

* Stay indoors and avoid going out if possible.

* If you must go out, be sure to wear protective clothing and take an umbrella or raincoat.

* Be aware of the dangers of downed power lines and flooding.

* Do not drive through flooded areas.

* Listen to the radio or TV for updates on the cyclone.

* Follow the instructions of the authorities.

* The death toll has now risen to 15, with over 200 people injured.

* Thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.

* The cyclone has also caused widespread damage to crops and infrastructure.

* The government of Gujarat has launched a massive relief effort, and the Indian government has pledged $10 million in aid.

* The cyclone is a major humanitarian crisis, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

* If you are in a coastal area, evacuate to a safe location as soon as possible.

* If you are unable to evacuate, take shelter in a sturdy building.

* Stay away from windows and doors, and do not use electronic devices during the storm.

* After the storm, be careful of downed power lines and flooded areas.

* Do not use candles or generators indoors, as they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

* Listen to the radio or TV for updates on the storm.

* Follow the instructions of the authorities.


The Gujarat cyclone is a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of being prepared for natural disasters. If you live in an area that is prone to cyclones, make sure you have a plan in place and know what to do in the event of a storm..

Cyclone Tauktae aftermath: Gujarat announces Rs 105 cr relief package for fishing community

The package was announced after meeting of government’s core committee chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar.

More than two weeks after cyclone Tauktae ravaged southern coast of Gujarat’s Saurashtra, damaging around 1,000 fishing boats and harbour infrastructure, the state government on Wednesday announced Rs105 crore relief package for the fishing community.

The package was announced after meeting of government’s core committee chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar. Of the Rs105 crore, Rs25 crore has been earmarked for immediate relief to fishermen for repairing their boats and fishing gears as well as to support them financially when they are unable to do fishing.

The balance Rs 80 crore is for creating new infrastructure as well as restoring damaged infrastructure in Jafrabad, Shiyal Bet harbours in Amreli district and Saiyad Rajpara and Nava Bandar fishing harbours in Gir Somnath district. “The core committee did a comprehensive review of damage caused to agriculture, horticulture as well as sagarkhedu (fishermen) recently by cyclone Tauktae and announced a generous relief-compensation package worth Rs105 crore to help fishermen get back on their feet and to put the fishing industry back on track,” an official release said.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, Energy Minister Saurabh Patel, Fisheries Minister Jawahar Chavda, Gujarat chief secretary Anil Mukim, CM’s chief principal secretary K Kailashnathan; Pankaj Kumar, additional chief secretary (revenue department); Nalin Upadhyay, secretary in the department of fisheries and animal husbandry and DP Desai, fisheries commissioner.

“Around 1,000 boats, small and large, have been damaged in the state due to cyclone Tauktae and the government will pay fishermen Rs 25 crore compensation,” the release quoted CM Vijay Rupani as saying.

Talking to The Indian Express after the meeting, minister Chavda said that there are around 29,000 registered fishing boats in Gujarat and of them, around 20,000 are active. He added that cyclone Tauktae, which made landfall between Una in Gir Somnath and Jafrabad in Amreli on May 17, damaged around five per cent of active boats, pegging total damage to
fishermen at around Rs 57 crore.

The package includes ex gratia ranging from Rs 35,000 to Rs 5 lakh for damaged boats, up to Rs 35000 for damaged fishing nets and other fishing gears as well as provisional amount of Rs 2,000 per fishermen who lost their livelihood.

The government will pay Rs 35,000 or 50 per cent of damage, whichever is lower, in case of partially-damaged small fishing boats or outboard motor boats. In case of completely damaged small boats, the government would pay Rs 75,000 or 50 per cent of the market value of the boat.

In cases of partially damaged trawlers, dolnetters and gillnetters, the government would pay 50 per cent of the damage caused or up to Rs 2 lakh, whichever is lower. The compensation for completely damaged trawlers, dolnetter and gillnetters would be 50 per cent of the market value of the boat or Rs 5 lakh, whichever is lower.

The government would also give 10 per cent interest subvention for two years to fishermen who avail loans worth up to Rs 10 lakh for repairing their completely damaged large boats or Rs 5 lakh loan to repair their partially damaged large boats, the release added.

Aquaculture farmers will be paid Rs 82,000 subsidy per hectare, Chavda said. The package also provides for expanding the existing jetty at Jafrabad and constructing a new 500-metre long jetty, a wharf wall with parking facility in Lal Batti area, as well as to create parking area in T-jetty area. In Shiyal Bet, Saiyad Rajpara and Nava Bandar, damaged harbour infrastructure will be repaired.

The Minister said that that while the survey was still going on, as per provisional figures, the cyclone damaged 187 OBM boats and 807 large boats.

“Estimated market value of each of the 994 boats, which have been surveyed so far, has been indented in consultation with their owners and fishermen leaders,” the Minister said adding that the infrastructure component in the package was decided in consultation with the fishermen.

Welcoming the package, Kanaiyalal Solanki, president of Kharva Samaj Machhimar Boat Association of Jafrabad, said, “Something is better than nothing. The government could have allotted more for immediate relief to fishermen rather than spending big on infrastructure. But we welcome the package.

Bharat Kamaliya, a fishermen leader of Saiyad Rajpara, had a different opinion. “The package has nothing for fishermen who have lost their huts and household articles. Rs 2,000 ex gratia is peanuts as steel roof of hut costs up to Rs 15,000,” he said.