Mass evacuation from the coastal areas of India and Pakistan is underway as Biparjoy is likely to make landfall in Gujrat and KetiBandar later at night creating a panic like situation on social media which has been flooded by short video clips of rains, thunderstorm, cyclone and tornados.
According to BBC, more than 170,000 people have been evacuated so far in both the countries vulnerable areas. As many as 81,000 people from the south-eastern coast while 94,000 from Gujrat.
According to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, it had slowed down but the “core remains intense”.
“It will not make landfall before nightfall now. More information will be shared soon from the National Disaster Management Authority,” she said on Twitter.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning about Cyclone Biparjoy, predicting its landfall between Keti Bandar and India’s Gujarat within the next two to six hours. The cyclone has been moving northeastward, currently located approximately 245km south of Karachi, 210km south of Thatta, and 145km south of Keti Bandar.
According to the PMD alert, Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to bring winds ranging from 100-120km/h, with gusts up to 140km/h and a maximum wave height of 25 feet. The forecast also includes a prediction of widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm and heavy rainfall in several districts of Sindh, including Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, and Umerkot, from June 15 to 17.
Furthermore, Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Sanghar districts are likely to experience dust/thunderstorms, rain, and squally winds today and tomorrow (Friday). In Balochistan, the districts of Hub, Lasbela, and Khuzdar can expect dust/thunderstorms and isolated heavy rainfall today and tomorrow.
The PMD’s weather alert highlights the potential for a storm surge of 3-4 meters at Keti Bander, the anticipated location of Cyclone Biparjoy’s landfall. Sea conditions along the Sindh coast are expected to become very rough/high (2-2.5m) and rough/very rough (2m) along the Balochistan coast, including Sonmiani, Hub, Kund Malir, Ormara, and surrounding areas.
During a press conference, the Climate Change Minister, Rehman, emphasized that Cyclone Biparjoy remains unpredictable and unstable, continuously changing in speed and direction. Despite heavy rainfall and strong winds expected in Karachi, the city is not expected to be directly impacted by the cyclone. However, there is a possibility of power failure in the coastal areas due to the storm, prompting assistance teams from Punjab to aid in potential repair work.
Flight operations have been instructed to suspend commercial flights at airports in Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Sukkur, and Moenjo Daro if the air pressure exceeds 30 nautical knots.
As the cyclone approaches the Sindh coastline, rain showers have already been reported in various areas across the province. Karachi’s Clifton, Defence Housing Authority, Sharea Faisal, Keamari, and other regions experienced light showers, while Shah Bandar, a port town situated 200km from Hyderabad, witnessed heavy rainfall throughout the day. The town has already seen seawater entering several houses, necessitating the evacuation of villages and the relocation of residents to relief camps.
Various areas including Badin, Chuhar Jamali, Hyderabad, Thatta, and Sujawal have reported light showers accompanied by strong winds.
