'Cyclone Biparjoy' catches intensity; citizens advised to avoid visiting shorelines

The Section 144 has been imposed along the coastal areas to ban fishing and swimming

KARACHI (Dunya News ) – After catching more intensity, powerful cyclone "Biparjoy" is heading to the coastline of Pakistan, the authorities said cautioned people to stay away from shorelines. 

Officials in Sindh and Balochistan have issued red alert and banned fishing and swimming along the coastal areas after the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) “BIPARJOY” over eastcentral Arabian Sea is maintaining its intensity and is hardly 760 kilometers away from Karchi and 750km from Thatta.

The administration of the southern port city of Karachi imposed a complete ban on going into open sea for sailing, fishing, swimming or bathing under Section 144.

The ban was imposed after the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued an alert, advising fishermen not to venture in open sea from Monday, 12 June 2023 onwards till the system is over as the “Arabian Sea conditions may get very rough/high accompanied with high tides along coast”.

The tides could rise up to 10 feet as soon as the cyclone that has gained  strike the coastal belt. Fishermen are reportedly ignoring the warnings, while some families have also been spotted at beaches.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) alert issued around 9.45pm on Saturday, the system was located 840km south of Karachi, 830km south of Thatta and 930km southeast of Ormara.

The Met department stated that the very severe cyclonic storm -- Biparjoy -- over east-central Arabian Sea was maintaining its intensity and had further tracked north-northeastward during the past 12 hours.

“It now lies near Latitude 17.3°N & Longitude 67.4°E at a distance of about 840km south of Karachi, 830km south of Thatta and 930km southeast of Ormara.

-- PMD alerts authorities to remain vigilant --

The Extremely Severe Cyclone Storm (ESCS) “BIPARJOY” may probably approach the southeast Sindh coast and cause widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with some very heavy/extremely heavy falls at few districts of Sindh between June 13-17.

About the possible impacts of the cyclone, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has revealed on Sunday that “With its probable approach to the southeast Sindh coast, widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with some very heavy/extremely heavy falls accompanied with squally winds of 80-100Km/hour likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker and Umerkot districts during June 13-17”.

“Dust/thunderstorm-rain with few heavy falls and accompanied with squally winds of 60-80 Km/hour is likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Mirpurkhas districts from June 13/14 and June 16”, the PMD said.

Squally (high intensity) winds may damage loose and vulnerable structures. Storm surge of 3-3.5 meters (8-12 feet) is expected at the land falling point (Keti Bandar and around).

The PMD has advised the fishermen not to venture in open sea till the system is over by June 17, as the Arabian Sea conditions may get very rough/high accompanied with high tides along coast.

The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) “BIPARJOY” over east central Arabian Sea has been intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS), moved northward during last 12 hours and now lies near Latitude 18.1°N and Longitude 67.5°E at a distance of about 760km south of Karachi, 740km south of Thatta and 840km southeast of Ormara.

Maximum sustained surface winds are 150-160 Km/hour gusts 180 Km/hour around the system center with and sea conditions being phenomenal around the system canter with maximum wave height 35-40 feet. The favorable environmental conditions (sea surface temperature of 30-32°C, low vertical wind shear and upper-level divergence) are supporting the system to maintain its intensity.

Under the existing upper-level steering winds, the ESCS “BIPARJOY” is most likely to track further Northward until June 14 morning, then recurve Northeastward and cross between Keti Bandar (Southeast Sindh) and Indian Gujarat coast on June 15 afternoon as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS).

PMD’s cyclone warning center, Karachi is continuously monitoring the system and will issue update accordingly. The PMD has also urged the concerned authorities to remain vigilant during the period.

-- NDMA forecast -- 

The National Daisaster Management Authortiy (NDMA) quoted the Pacific Disaster Centre (PDC) stating that around 1.38 million people from both Pakistan and India were exposed to the cyclone, of which 305,755 were among the vulnerable population.

#NEOC Update:Very Severe Cyclonic Storm #BIPARJOY status. Dev path based on intl weather models is for proactive measures against likely impacts. It's evolving sit & impact will only be certain w/ further devplt of sys. Source:Windy (UKM,BoM-A, ECMWF model)11June,0900hrs PST pic.twitter.com/SMD9c6cnmg

— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) June 11, 2023

It added the cyclone had sustained winds of 185km/h with gusts as high as 232km/h.

NDMA urged the general public to stay informed and follow the official updates and warnings issued by relevant authorities to protect themselves and their properties from the possible impacts of Tropical Cycling BIPARJOY.

In an advisory issued by the spokesperson for NDMA said according to the latest information gathered through monitoring of International forecasting models, Tropical Cyclone BIPARJOY, which was currently a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) would likely to intensify into an Extreme Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) in next 24 hours.

The imposition of the Section 144 will come into effect from June 11 “till the end of the storm,” the notification said, adding that the measures aimed at avoiding any untoward incident of shipwreck and drowning.

The deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners concerned have been authotised to take action against the violators in coordination with the concerned SSP Karachi and get the violators booked under section 188 PPC.