KARACHI: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Wednesday Cyclone Biparjoy had nearly moved northward during the last six hours, adding it was at a distance of 275 kilometers southwest of Keti Bandar, 340 kilometers south of Karachi, and 355 kilometers south of Thatta in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, an official statement confirmed.
Biparjoy, which started as a deep depression over the Arabian Sea last week before intensifying into a very severe cyclonic storm, is expected to cross between Keti Bandar and the Indian state of Gujarat on Thursday.
In view of the situation, Pakistani authorities issued alerts and started evacuating people living in the coastal areas to safer locations.
The country’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it would move about 100,000 people to temporary camps by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, where they will be required to stay until the storm subsides.
“The very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) ‘BIPARJOY’ over the northeast Arabian Sea moved further north-northwestward during last 6 hours, and now lies near Latitude 21.9°N & Longitude 66.3°E at a distance of about 340km south-southwest of Karachi, 355km south-southwest Thatta and 275km south-southwest of Keti Bandar,” the PMD said in a statement issued Wednesday morning.
“Under the existing upper-level steering winds, [the cyclone] is now likely to recurve north-northeastward and cross between Keti Bandar and Indian Gujarat coast on 15 June afternoon/evening as a very severe cyclonic storm with packing winds of 100-120 km/hour and gusting of 140 km/hour.”
People gather to witness high tides splashing on the sea front at a beach before the due onset of cyclone Biparjoy, in Karachi on June 13, 2023. (AFP)
It added the PMD’s cyclone warning center in Karachi was continuously monitoring the weather system and would issue updates accordingly.
Speaking to Arab News, PMD’s chief meteorologist, Sardar Sarfraz, said the cyclone’s distance from Karachi was initially estimated to be 350 kilometers at night but in the morning, the estimate increased to 360 kilometers.
The met department official emphasized the disparity in the distance was not significant. However, he noted that the current trend indicated the storm could veer eastward before making landfall.
“While the primary impact of the storm would be felt on the Indian side, its outer bands were expected to affect coastal villages and creeks on the eastern side, including Keti Bandar, Shahbandar, and Gharoshan,” he added.
Asked about the weather in Karachi, Sarfraz predicted scattered and light showers later in the day.
“Tonight and tomorrow, heavy rainfall is expected in some parts of Karachi, but the situation in the city will not be dangerous,” he added.
According to a report submitted to the chief minister of Sindh, a total of 64,107 people from the Thatta, Sajawal, and Badin districts have so far been shifted to safe places.
“In total, about 86.23 percent of people have been shifted from the three districts, while out of the 13,000 people living in Keti Bandar, 10,000 have been relocated by the administration while 3,000 people have moved voluntarily.”
Meanwhile, authorities have warned people living near coastal areas to take precautionary measures while preventing fishermen from venturing into the sea and advising Karachi’s residents to avoid visiting the beach.
The country’s national carrier also said that due to the cyclone, strong winds and gusts would likely affect air sites and routes, adding all preparatory measures to deal with the cyclone had been completed.
“The PIA has activated its 24-hour emergency response center which will closely monitor and take immediate actions for flight operations in case of weather deterioration,” Pakistan International Airlines spokesperson, Abdullah H. Khan, said in a statement issued Tuesday evening.
“In case of bad weather situation at Karachi and Sukkur airports, Multan and Lahore will be used as alternative airfields,” he added.
