In-focus

Pakistan coastline now 'safe' as Cyclone Biparjoy weakens after striking India's Gujarat

Pakistan coastline now 'safe' as Cyclone Biparjoy weakens after striking India's Gujarat

Pakistan

The cyclone makes landfall along India-Pakistan border

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Pakistan was “largely spared” as Cyclone Biparjoy weakened into a “severe cyclonic storm” after making landfall in India’s Gujarat, authorities said on Friday.

The system was likely to weaken into a depression by evening. Biparjoy made landfall in India's Gujarat coast near Pakistan border late Thursday, India weather office said, as strong winds and heavy rain lashed coastal areas of the two countries.

"Landfall process is continuing and by midnight it will be completely over the land. Part of the eye (of cyclone) is over the land," the India Meteorological Department said.

Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman said the cyclone had completed landfall in India’s Gujarat. “Pakistan was prepared but largely spared the full force. Sindh’s coastal areas, like Sujawal, were inundated by high sea levels but most people had been evacuated to safe ground,” she said.

The minister also thanked all authorities concerned for a “stellar coordination effort”.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that Cyclone Biparjoy has made landfall along the Indian Gujarat coast near Jakhau port and the Pakistan-India border. Presently, the cyclone is approximately 130 kilometres away from Keti Bandar.

Earlier, Pakistan Climate Change Minister Senator Sherry Rehman said on Thursday cyclone Biparjoy -- a very severe cyclonic storm -- had slowed down and won't make landfall before night now.

Authorities remains on high alert as the cyclone is likely to hit Sindh's shores today (Thursday) with the local authorities bracing for "possible damage". 

“Cyclone Biparjoy has slowed down but core remains intense,” she said on Twitter. “It will not make landfall before nightfall now. More information will be shared soon from the National Disaster Management Authority.”

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Cyclone is 230km south of Karachi, 235km south Thatta and 155km south-southwest of Keti Bandar.

 The country’s coastal regions remained on high alert on Wednesday, with tens of thousands of people being evacuated to prevent the impact of the cyclone. Biparjoy is inching closer to India and Pakistan, prompting authorities to take preventive measures to minimise the damage it may cause to life and property.

The Met department’s advisory released on Wednesday night showed that Biparjoy had moved north-eastwards during the past six hours.

Taking to Twitter, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) says the cyclone is being monitored continuously and an important meeting was held at 1am on Thursday.     

The cyclone will pass through Pakistan's Keti Bandar and India's Gujrat in afternoon. 

On late Wednesday, the cyclone was about 310 kiometers south of Karachi, 300km south-southwest of Thatta and 240km south-southwest of Keti Bandar.

The cyclone is likely to reduce its strength after hitting the land, but the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has asked fishermen not to venture into the open sea until Saturday.

Still unstable and unpredictable, says NDMA chief

Minister Sherry Rehman who was flanked by NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider told a presser on Thursday that Cyclone Biparjoy had moved further from Karachi but at the same time noted that the storm was still unpredictable and unstable.

She said the cyclone's landfall period is variable and has moved further between June 15 and 16, adding the speed and direction of the cyclone were changing every hour, adding that over 17 stations were currently monitoring it and Biparjoy was the most monitored storm in the world right now.

On Wednesday, Sindh's Sajawal district turned more vulnerable to powerful cyclone Biparjoy after high tides triggered by gusty winds and heavy showers hit shores at Shah Bandar on Wednesday noon.      

The local administration vacated several villages from Shah Bandar area after intensity of sea waves grew. Strong winds knocked electricity poles down and transportation in the area was suspended.       

Thatta, Sajawal, Badin, Kotri, Matiari, Tando Allah Yar and Tando Muhammad Khan are receiving continous downpour. Huge tides are being reported along the affected coastline. There are reports that some villages in Kharo Chan have been inundated with sea water.    

Catching some intensity the tropical cyclone -- Biparjoy -- is hardly 300 kilometres away from Karachi and 288km from Port Keti Bandar, the National Disaster Management Authority said in its latest update on Wednesday.   

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz said the cyclone had moved north-northwestward during the last six hours. 

Earlier situation 

The tropical cyclone is expected to maintain a northward trajectory until Wednesday morning and then it is likely to recurve eastward and will make a landfall between Keti Bandar (Southeast Sindh Coastline) and the Indian Gujarat Coastline in the afternoon of Thursday (June 15), as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS).

According to the latest NDMA forecast, tropical cyclone has weakened into a "Very Severe Cyclonic Storm" (VSCS) -- Category 3, with sustained windspeeds of approximately 140-150 km/h and gusts up to 170 km/h.

On Wednesday morning, Biparjoy was located in the Arabian Sea near Latitude 21.2° N and Longitude 66.6° E, roughly 380km south of Karachi and 390km south of Thatta.

The areas likely to be affected by Cyclone Biparjoy include Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Tharparkar, Karachi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Hyderabad, Ormara, Tando Allah Yar and Tando Mohammad Khan.

NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik said more than 100,000 people would be evacuated till June 14 (Wednesday). Addressing a presser flanked by Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, he said the cyclone could hit Keti Bander on Thursday. "The evacuation process at coastal belt of Thatta, Keti and Jaati Bander and Umerkot is under way," he added.

He informed that the Keti Bunder coastline and adjoining areas had been alerted whereas the security and law-enforcement agencies, provincial departments and volunteers were engaged in shifting the population to safer places. "The evacuated population will remain in the relief shelters till the situation normalises as strong windstorms and rains will take place," he added.

All volunteers and non-government organisations (NGOs) who had been working during post-2022 floods would also be engaged in the process, he said. "The government of Sindh and other departments are engaged with the NDMA for relief activities,” he said. 

The NDMA chairman said Pakistan Army, Rangers, PDMA and NGOs are ready to meet any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, Ms Rehman underlined that the leaves of all government officials and staff had been cancelled and hospitals were on high alert. She asked the people living near coastal belt of Sindh and Balochistan to follow precautionary measures mentioned in advisories issued by the NDMA to meet any untoward situation due to Cyclone Biparjoy.

She informed that eight relief camps in public schools and technical institutions’ buildings were established in Badin, three in Keti Bunder, and seven in the public schools. "As many as 12 feet high tides with a speed of 200 kilometres per hour can hit the coastal belt of the country," she added.

The minister said fisherman had been warned to avoid going to the sea. 'The old and mud houses can be damaged due to cyclone," she added. 

Ms Rehman went on to say that the intensity of the cyclone was increasing and moving speedily to the coastal belt of Sindh. She warned that low-lying areas of Karachi could be inundated due to rains and speedy winds of cyclone. She advised people to voluntarily move at safer places and cooperate with the evacuation teams and the staff whose leaves had been cancelled.

Evacuation

Accoridng to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), more than 81,000 people have been evacuated and sifted to the safer places.

The evacuation took place in Keti Bundar and Ghora Bari, part of Thatta district; Shah Bundar, Jati and Kharochann, parts of Sajawal district; Shaheed Fazil Rahu tehsil (district Badin) and Badin.

No change in Biparjoy path, don't venture out for two days: Sherry Rehman

Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman on Wednesday asked the people living along the coastal and other areas expected to be affected by tropical cyclone Biparjoy to take necessary precautionary measures and said evacuation of people was in full swing.

She said there had been no change in the projected path of Biparjoy which was expected to make landfall tomorrow (Thursday) between Keti Bandar – a town located in Thatta district of Sindh – and Indian state of Gujarat.

About Biparjoy, Rehman said the maximum wind speed currently was recorded at 150 km per hour [with gusts up to 170 km per hour] and added that heavy rains with strong winds were predicted in even those areas which won’t be hit directly.

The cyclone won’t hit Karachi – a city hosting around 20 million people – but the affects [in the shape of storm surge, wind and downpours] would be felt, said the minister.

Addressing a press conference, Rehman urged people to avoid unnecessary movement on June 14 and 15 [Thursday and Friday] and stock diesel in case they have generators.

This precaution is necessary in the case of cyclones given that the wind and heavy rain knock down power lines, resulting in complete disruption of electricity supply.

She said shipping activity had been suspended at the two ports in megacity – Karachi Port and Port Bin Qasim – and mentioned that people must not venture near the coastline, with an appeal to cooperate with the military and civil authorities.

The government has already imposed Section 144 to stop people, especially fishermen, from visiting the coastline and go for fishing.

About evacuations from the most vulnerable areas like Keti Bandar and other towns/ villages which will experience the brunt, Rehman said the process was completed by late Tuesday night, but added that the residents of some other areas [like those living the localities located near the sea] were showing reluctance.

Speaking on the occasion, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik shared the details of the measures taken so far including establishment of relief camps, as the government is getting ready to face the challenge amid the cyclone’s landfall tomorrow.

PM directs to utilise all resources to protect people 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the Sindh provincial government, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other relevant organisations to utilise all-out resources to ensure people's protection keeping in view the Biparjoy cyclone.

The prime minister, who chaired a meeting to review the preparedness ahead of the possible impact of the cyclone, asked the Sindh government, the NDMA and other organisations to ensure the establishment of mobile hospitals in coastal areas and provide adequate emergency medical assistance there.

He said in view of the storm, special arrangements of clean drinking water and food should be made at the camps of displaced persons.

The prime minister instructed Power Minister Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan to ensure his presence in the districts of southern Sindh until the effects of the cyclone were over to monitor the 24-hour power transmission system in the coastal areas. Prime Minister Shehbaz said after the cyclone, the possible damage to the power transmission system should be repaired immediately.

Climate change leading to increase in cyclones in Arabian Sea region

Experts say climate change is leading to an increase in cyclones in the Arabian Sea region, making preparations for natural disasters all the more urgent. Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change, although the country’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is less than 1%.

“The oceans have become warmer already on account of climate change,” Raghu Murtugudde, an Earth system scientist at the University of Maryland said. A recent study shows that the Arabian Sea has warmed up by almost 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since March this year, making conditions favourable for severe cyclones, he said.

A 2021 study found that the frequency, duration and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea had increased significantly between 1982 and 2019, he said.

UN climate reports have also stated that the intensity of tropical cyclones would increase in a warmer climate. A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2019 found that since the 1950s, the fastest sea surface warming has occurred in the Indian Ocean.

Cyclone Tauktae in 2021 was the last severe cyclone that made landfall in the same region. It claimed 174 lives, a relatively low figure thanks to extensive preparations ahead of the cyclone.

In 1998, a cyclone that hit Gujarat state claimed more than 1,000 lives and caused excessive damage. A cyclone that hit Sindh province and the city of Karachi in 1965 killed more than 10,000 people.

UN to help Pakistan deal with impact of cyclone Biparjoy: spokesman

The United Nations will help Pakistan and India in whatever way it can in dealing with the impacts of the approaching cyclone Biparjoy, a U.N. spokesman said on Tuesday.

“I have had no doubt that our country teams both in India and Pakistan and other countries that may be impacted are very much tracking the storm and doing whatever they can do to prepare for the aftermath,” Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in response to a question at the regular noon briefing in New York.

“And as always,” he added, “the United Nations will stand and assist in whatever way we can afterward, hoping that no major damage has been caused, of course.”

WHO mobilises partners for cyclone response plan 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has mobilised health sector partners for initiating a preparedness and response plan for Tropical Cyclone Biparjoy. According to the WHO, currently Pakistan is facing the threat of Tropical Cyclone Biparjoy, and due to the threat people living along the coastal areas in Sindh are being evacuated to safer places. 

The government, being fully cognisant of the looming threat of the cyclone, has taken appropriate safety measures for protecting the precious human lives. WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Palitha Mahipala chaired an Incident Management Support Team (IMST) and health sector partners meeting on Tuesday in the wake of severe cyclone Biparjoy and issued immediate directives for preparations for Tropical Cyclone Biparjoy emergency preparedness and response measures.

WHO along with Health Sector Partners is also coordinating with federal and provincial health ministries for monitoring and developing a preparedness and response plan according to the evolving situation of the cyclone.

In view of this, WHO has prepositioned essential emergency medicines in Sindh to provide emergency assistance to vulnerable communities. This emergency stock includes Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), Aqua Tabs and essential medicines.

“We are closely monitoring the cyclone situation and remain on alert during the forecast period to extend every possible support to the Government of Pakistan,” remarked WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Palitha Mahipala.

WHO has convened Health Sector Partner Coordination meeting for joint preparedness and response plan to the cyclone. UNICEF, UNFPA, Save the Children, ICRC participated and reiterated their support for rapid response.

It is pertinent to mention here that WHO is coordinating the health response under the Government of Pakistan’s leadership. The Technical working group has been formulated to oversight the cyclone emergency preparedness plan and mechanism for the response.

“We are focusing and preparing for the health needs of affected communities in the wake of an emergency. Our priority is to ensure their needs are met and there is no disruption in the provision of essential health services including emergency and trauma care,” WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr Palitha Mahipala said.

Simultaneously, the WHO has also activated Strategic Health Operation Centre (SHOC Room) in its Country Office to coordinate the health response to the cyclone and extend full support to scale up provincial capacities and mobilize human and financial resources.

All the partners ensured to have their representatives at the SHOC room for the timely, well-coordinated, and collective response efforts.

WHO is leading the coordination for Health Sector Partners and is conducting daily follow-up meetings.
 

Related Topics
Biparjoy
Weather
Pakistan



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