Mass exodus as typhoon nears costal areas in Pakistan, India

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 this morning, the cyclone — named Biparjoy, meaning “disaster” in Bengali — had moved nearly northwards and was positioned near latitude 21.9°N and longitude 66.3°E, about 280 km west-southwest of Jakhau Port (Gujarat) and 340 km south-southwest of Karachi.

However, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) notified later in the day that the storm’s distance from Karachi has increased and now it is 370km away from the port city.

It is very likely to move nearly northeastwards today and then recurve northeastward and cross between Keti Bandar and adjoining Indian coasts between Karachi and Mandvi (Gujarat) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by the evening of June 15 as a VSCS with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph.

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 17 June, as the sea level has risen to a dangerous level along the coastal belt, and the Arabian Sea conditions are very rough.