Pakistan ‘safe’ from Biparjoy’s destruction as cyclone weakens after hitting India
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistani officials Friday appeared relieved after the very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) Biparjoy made landfall along the Indian Gujarat coast and Pakistan-India border, sparing Sindh’s coastline from significant damage.
Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman spoke to Geo News today and shared that Pakistan is safe from the cyclone and a meeting is scheduled today to discuss the next steps.
Over 180,000 individuals in recent days were evacuated by authorities in India and Pakistan to prepare for the arrival of the cyclone, expected to impact coastal regions of both countries.
Weather officials reported that Biparjoy, a cyclone whose name translates to ‘disaster’ or ‘calamity’ in Bengali, struck near Jakhau, a port in India’s Gujarat.
Roofs were blown off houses and trees, and electric poles were uprooted in several parts of the Indian state due to squally winds. No casualties were reported.
According to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Biparjoy will further weaken today.
“It is expected to move north-eastward and weaken into a cyclonic storm by morning 16 June and further weaken into a depression by evening 16 June,” the NDMA said.
Meanwhile, fishermen shifted due to the cyclone can now return home, as it has largely subsided, according to District Badin’s Deputy Commissioner Agha Shahnawaz.
As per DC Badin, the fishermen will return to their villages from today. Meanwhile, rainfall in the district is expected in the next 24 hours.
On the other hand, Sujawal Deputy Commissioner Imtiaz Abro said light rain and winds continued in the district and its surroundings since night. “The threat of a storm has come to an end,” he said.
Residents of areas at threat, who were evacuated and residing in relief camps, will begin returning to their homes from tomorrow, as per the DC.
Abro added that the damage due to strong winds and rain at night is being assessed.
The NDMA said that the cyclone is currently at latitude 23.4°N and longitude 68.5°E and remains at a distance of about 255 kilometres from Karachi, 165 kilometres from Thatta and 125 kilometres from Keti Bandar.
The maximum sustained surface winds, as per the disaster management authority, are between 100 to 120 kilometres per hour with gusts moving at 130 kilometres per hour around the system centre. “Expected maximum wave height in Northeast Arabian sea is around 10 to 15 feet,” it added.