KARACHI
Cyclone Biparjoy has gained intensity, and it is now 600km away from the Karachi coast, prompting authorities to sound alarm by banning fishermen and picnickers.
The Meteorological Department has warned of high waves as a sea storm is expected from Wednesday next, advising the fishermen to avoid going in the open sea from Monday. The cyclone is 580km away from Thatta, and it is likely to make landfall between southeast Sindh and India’s Gujarat state. The storm backed by high waves may hit Karachi on Thursday noon.
Further changes in the track of the cyclone are also likely in the days to come, the Meteorological Department has said. Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General (DG) Jehanzeb Khan paid a visit to Turbat and Gwadar where he inspected the preparations to deal with the cyclone.
The DG along with other officials visited the warehouse of the PDMA in Turbat where he ensured that all the essential items for any emergency are available. “All necessary measures are being taken in view of Cyclone Biparjoy. Preparations for monsoon had already been ensured,” he said.
He also chaired a meeting in Gwadar for preparations regarding the cyclone. Officials of all the departments concerned attended the meeting. All the departments concerned were put on high alert. “The protection of human life is the first and foremost priority of the administration,” the PDMA DG said.
“The rescue teams of the PDMA are present at all important places with the relevant equipment,” he added. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took an aerial view of coastal areas of Thatta and Sujawal districts on Monday.
On the occasion, Divisional Commissioner Hyderabad Bilal Ahmed Memon briefed about cyclone. He briefed that the cyclone will hit on Thursday and the effect of the storm will be reduced by 17th or 18th of this month.
The Commissioner said that there will be a 4 to 5 meter flood in the sea due to the impact of the storm and the water will be increased in the sea. He said that the people of village Bhagra Memon have been shifted to a safe place while 50,000 more people will be evacuated from villages near sea of Shah Bandar including Jati and Keti Bandar.
The authorities in India have also issued a cyclone alert in Thane, Mumbai and Palghar. They have also asked fishermen in the coastal areas to be on alert from June 11 to June 14.
The India Meteorological Department said that the extremely severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy moved north-northeastwards with a speed of eight kilometres per hour during the past six hours.
“It is very likely to move nearly northwards till Wednesday morning, then move north-northeastwards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) around noon of 15th June as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph,” the Met Department said.
