Cyclonic Storm “Biparjoy” over Northeast and adjoining Eastcentral Arabian Sea is packing maximum sustained winds of 180 kph (111 mph), according to the India Meteorological Department. It’s projected to hit land near Jakhau port in the Kutch district of Gujarat. Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said earlier today that the cyclone was 470 kilometers (292 miles) south of Karachi, the capital of Sindh province.
Biparjoy is very likely to move nearly northwards till 14th morning, then move northnortheastwards and cross Saurashtra & Kutch (India) and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi (Gujarat-India) and Karachi (Pakistan).
Pakistan’s army and civil authorities so far evacuated 22,000 people from coastal towns and are planning to evacuate 80,000 more people to safety along the country’s southern coast, and thousands in neighboring India sought shelter ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy.
Authorities also banned gatherings along the beaches and shorelines during the cyclone. All ports, including two of India’s largest, Mundra and Kandla, have been shut down due to the Cyclone Biparjoy. Fishermen in both countries have been asked to stay ashore and move their boats to safer locations.
According to experts, climate change is leading to an increase in cyclones in the Arabian Sea region, 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%.
During late 90s, a cyclone that hit Gujarat 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.
