A cyclone, moving at a speed of 3 kilometres per hour towards to coast of Pakistan and India, is likely to have an extreme atmospheric impact on the coastal areas of the adjoining countries, prompting the authorities on both sides to carry out mass exodus from the settlements near the sea.
As per the forecast issued at 9:30pm PST, the cyclone — named Biparjoy, meaning “disaster” in Bengali — had moved nearly northeastward during last 06 hours and now lies near Latitude 22.1°N & Longitude 66.9°E at a distance of about 310km south of Karachi, 300km south- southwest Thatta and 240km south- southwest of Keti Bandar.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) notified that the cyclone’s surface winds are 150-160 Km/hour gusts 180 Km/hour around the system center and sea conditions being phenomenal around the system center with maximum wave height 30 feet.
The Met Office said that Biparjoy is likely keep tracking Northeastward and cross between Keti Bandar (Southeast Sindh) and Indian Gujarat coast on June 15 evening as a very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) with packing winds of 100-120 Km/hour gusting 140 km/hour. PMD’s cyclone warning center.
Mass evacuations are underway in the coastal areas of both countries, and the authorities remain high alert as the cyclone inches closer.
There is a high risk of coastal inundation in the areas near the coastline, including Karachi, Thatta, Sujawal, and Badin, while the Indian Met department warns of torrential rains with thunderstorm under the impact of Biparjoy.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the open sea till the system is over by June 17, as the sea level has risen to a dangerous level along the coastal belt, and the Arabian Sea conditions are very rough.
Click here to read live coverage of cyclone Biparjoy
Possible impacts on Pakistani coastal areas:
— Widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with some very heavy/extremely heavy falls accompanied with squally winds of 80-100kmph gusting 120kmph likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts during 13-17 June.
— Dust/thunderstorm-rain with few heavy falls & accompanied with squally winds of 60-80 Km/hour likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad & Sanghar districts from 14 -16 June.
— Dust/thunderstorm-rain with isolated heavy falls likely in Hub, Lasbella districts of Balochistan during 14-16 June.
— Squally (high intensity) winds may cause damage to loose & vulnerable structures (Kutcha houses) including solar panels etc.
— Storm surge of 3-3.5 meters (8-12 feet) expected at the land falling point (Keti Bandar and around) which can inundate the low-lying settlements.
— Sea conditions along Sindh coast may get very rough to high (2-2.5 meter) accompanied and rough to very rough (2 meter) along Balochistan coast (Sonmiani, Hub, Kund Malir. Ormara and surroundings).
Possible impacts on Indian coastal areas:
— Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh and Morbi districts of Saurashtra and Kutch on June 14.
— The intensity of rainfall would increase with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka & Jamnagar and heavy to very heavy rainfall in districts of Gujarat and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely over remaining districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat region on June 15th.
— Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over north Gujarat and adjoining south Rajasthan on June 16 and southeast Rajasthan & adjoining North Gujarat region on June 17.
Key updates on cyclone:
1,000 people evacuated from Keti Bandar
Assistant commissioner of Thatta shared that 1,000 people have been evacuated from Sujanwari area of Kati Bandar.
The official shared that these people had gone into hiding when the evacuations were done from Keti Bandar city a day earlier.
Govt halts small aircraft flights
The very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) Biparjoy has caused a halt of small aircraft operations in the areas facing impacts of cyclonic winds, whereas the government has started mulling over the closure of commercial flights as well in its high-level meeting to be convened on Wednesday evening.
In a joint media briefing, flanked by Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman shared a recent update on the VSCS Biparjoy.
Senator Sherry Rehman said that the cyclone was heading toward the coastline of the country. She added that the winds were blowing at a speed of 140 kilometers per hour (km/h) and all the institutions were working together to ensure that the preparations were being made along with precautionary measures.
The senator informed that some 75 relief camps were established and according to the Sindh government, all the individuals were evacuated from the potentially affected areas.
She urged the masses that there was no need to panic as the authorities concerned were vigilant and taking prerequisite measures. Public safety and saving people’s lives was the top priority of the government, she added.
Indian weather office warns of severe damage
Roads will be inundated along parts of India’s western coast and thatched houses were likely to be destroyed, the country’s weather department said on Wednesday, a day before a fierce cyclone was expected to make landfall in the state of Gujarat and southern parts of Pakistan.
Classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, Biparjoy was situated about 280 km (174 miles) from Jakhau Port in Gujarat and was expected to make landfall around Thursday evening.
“It will touch Kutch-Saurashtra coast (in Gujarat) adjoining the Pakistan coast between Mandvi and Karachi and near Jakhau port on June 15 from 4pm to 8pm in India,” Manorama Mohanty, the Gujarat director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), told reporters.
“As of now, our forecast is it will cross as a very severe cyclonic storm. After crossing, its intensity will fall and become a cyclonic storm and depression.”
“Coastal districts of Gujarat have started receiving heavy rainfall,” a senior official with the state-run IMD said. “From Wednesday evening, the intensity of rainfall and wind speed would increase. On Thursday, extremely heavy rainfall is expected. Some districts could get more than 200 mm rainfall on Thursday.”
Eight districts in coastal Gujarat are expected to be affected, the state government said. Fishing has been suspended until Friday and schools have declared holidays.
Many offshore oil installations and major ports, which line up the coasts in Gujarat have been forced to suspend operations.
“We have evacuated more than 45,000 people so far. The evacuation operations will continue till today (Wednesday) evening, mainly in Kutch,” said Kamal Dayani, a senior official in the Gujarat state government.
Biparjoy to hit Keti Bandar tomorrow: Sherry Rehman
Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman shared on Wednesday that that Cyclone Biparjoy will hit Pakistan’s Keti Bandar at 11am tomorrow.
In a press conference, the minister urged the people to cooperate with the authorities, adding that patrolling, relief and rescue organisations were working in coordination.
The minister shared that Thatta, Sujawal and Badin will the most affected districts of Pakistan.
“We are monitoring the situation 24/7,” said the minister. She added that the 1999 cyclone was similar to Biparjoy. Be it Sindh government or federal government all authorities are united, she said.
NDMA urges people to stay cautious and safe
Rough sea conditions intensify at Hawkes Bay
The sea conditions have intensified at Karachi’s Hawkes Bay as high waves are crashing on the beach. Despite the sea water reaching the road along the coast, there is no one to prevent people from visiting the beach.
Light to moderate rain expected in Karachi today
Sindh Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz on Tuesday said that light to moderate rain is expected in Karachi today, while heavy showers are likely on Thursday and Friday.