As the hurricane approaches the coast of Sindh, authorities there are on high alert.
PMD pinpoints Keti Bandar as the likely arrival site.
KARACHI:
On Sunday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that Cyclone Biparjoy over the east central Arabian Sea had reached “extremely severe cyclonic storm (ESCS)” status.
It noted that it was located near 18.1 North latitude and 67.5 East longitude, indicating a northward shift during the preceding 12 hours.
Based on the PDMA’s estimates, the cyclone was located about 760 kilometers south of Karachi, 740 kilometers south of Thatta, and 840 kilometers southeast of Ormara.
“most likely track further northward until June 14 morning,” the report stated.
This “very severe cyclonic storm” would then arc back to the northeast and make landfall on the Indian coast somewhere between Keti Bandar in southeast Sindh and the Gujrat region on the 15th of June.
According to the Met Office, the maximum sustained surface winds of the cyclone were between 150 and 160 kilometers per hour.
It was also noted that winds gusted up to 180 kph around the eye of the cyclone.
Sea conditions were described as “phenomenal around the system center with [a] maximum wave height [of] 35-40 feet” in the PMD.
The department forecasted that the system will sustain its strength due to the favorable climatic circumstances. These included a sea surface temperature of 30-32 degrees Celsius, little vertical wind shear, and upper-level divergence.
The PMD predicted that the storm would move in from the southeast over Sindh.
From June 13 to 17, the districts of Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker, and Umerkot were predicted to see widespread wind-dust and thunderstorm rain, with some very heavy rainfall accompanied by squally winds of 80-100km/h.
According to the PMD, the districts of Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, and Mirpurkhas were anticipated to see “dust/thunderstorm-rain with [a] few heavy falls and accompanied by squally winds of 60-80km/h” from June 14-16.
The PMD warned that squally (high-intensity) winds could cause damage to flimsy and easily-toppled buildings (kutcha homes).
The area of Keti Bandar, where the typhoon is expected to make landfall, is predicted to see a storm surge of 3.5 meters.
The Meteorological Office cautioned fishermen to stay on land “until the system is over by June 17 as the Arabian Sea conditions may get very rough/high accompanied by high tides along the coast.”
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a warning for residents to avoid coastal areas since the storm was expected to strengthen over the following 24 hours as it made its way toward the coasts of Pakistan and India.
Tweeting that “the cyclone is expected to impact southern and south-eastern parts of Sindh on June 13,” it continued, “The cyclone is expected to last for several days.”
Sources say that on Monday (today), the residents of Keti Bandar would be relocated 10 kilometers inland.
It was originally intended that they be housed in temporary shelters during this time, but this plan was scrapped.
For the time being, it was determined that the inhabitants would be held in public institutions like schools and government buildings.
Murad Ali Shah, chief minister of Sindh, addressed reporters in Karachi, saying that the cyclone had avoided the country’s economic powerhouse but was expected to strike other coastal districts of the province and the Indian state of Gujarat.
The chief minister of Sindh, however, added that rain and 100-kilometer-per-hour winds were forecast for Karachi.
According to the current prognosis, Shah said, the regions of Thatta, Sujawal, and Badin are in danger.
He further said that the commissioner from Hyderabad had been sent to the areas of Thatta, Sujawal, and Badin to prepare for the possible evacuation of locals. With the impending rains in mind, Shah also gave the Karachi commissioner orders to set up billboards.
He advised people in coastal areas to stay indoors as much as possible while the storm was passing.
The chief minister of Sindh told his constituents that he was working closely with the commander of the Karachi corps, the director general of the Rangers, and the general officer commanding in Hyderabad to head off any potential disasters.
Relatedly, the city government of Karachi has finished putting together a thorough plan to deal with the hurricane.
All deputy commissioners have been in touch with the relevant agencies, and both the Civil and Jinnah, two government-run hospitals, are on high alert.
Keeping in mind the cyclone danger. Commissioner Iqbal Memon of Karachi convened a meeting of the Provincial Coordination Implementation Committee (PCIC), Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Pakistan Navy (PN), all of the city’s deputy commissioners (DCs), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), district municipalities (DMs), local bodies (LBs), health department (HD), Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), K-Electric (KE), DHA (Deve
Each deputy commissioner, including those from Malir and Keamari, gave a detailed presentation on the low-lying areas in their districts and the measures being taken to help the people affected.
Sarfraz Ahmed, the chief meteorologist, briefed everyone on what to expect from the storm.
He noted that while there was little probability of the storm making landfall in Karachi, high gusts and considerable rainfall were probable.
The PDMA has mapped out the low-lying areas of Karachi, and the inhabitants would be evacuated to safer areas with the help of the deputy commissioners if evacuation is necessary.
K-Electric informed the huddle attendees that it has implemented measures to safeguard against electrocution incidents and continue electricity service to residents despite the rain.
The meeting settled on using a WhatsApp group as the primary means of communication going forward.
Dangerous structures in the city were discussed at length.
At the meeting, the director general of SBCA said that of Karachi’s 450 fragile buildings, 40 posed a “extreme risk.”
He also mentioned that orders to leave had been issued to the owners of those 40 structures.
Attendees were informed that efforts to remove billboards had begun prior to the conference.
The commissioner has announced the appointment of dedicated staff members in his office’s control room 1299.
He also mentioned that the control room served as a means for organizations to communicate with one another and for individuals to request help.
The commissioner observed that despite the cyclone threat, the Karachi administration was not enforcing Section 144, which prohibits fishing, boating, and swimming in the sea.
To ensure the prohibition was enforced, Memon issued an order to the relevant authorities.
