Cyclone Biparjoy, a powerful storm with hurricane-force winds, is slowly moving across the Arabian Sea, heading towards the border of Pakistan and India. In anticipation of its landfall on Thursday, authorities have issued evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents in the affected areas. The cyclone, named after the Bengali word for “disaster”, has fluctuated between a Category 1 and Category 2 hurricane, with wind speeds ranging from 90 to 100 miles per hour. As it approaches Jakhau Port in India, it is expected to weaken to a strong tropical storm with winds dropping slightly below 74 mph.
Forecasters predict that the cyclone will bring heavy rain and strong tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 80 miles from its center. This will affect regions from Gujarat in western India to the port city of Karachi in Pakistan. Tide levels are also expected to rise significantly, reaching six to ten feet above normal near the cyclone’s center.
On Thursday afternoon, the storm is projected to cross between Keti Bandar, a fishing harbor east of Karachi, and the Kutch district in Gujarat. In Gujarat, authorities have ordered residents living within six miles off the coast to move to safer places. In Pakistan, more than 80,000 people have been evacuated, and businesses and malls along the coastline of Karachi have been directed to close.
Preparations for the cyclone have been underway for several days. In Pakistan’s coastal areas, thousands of people have already left their homes and sought refuge in government buildings turned relief shelters. The chief minister of Sindh Province emphasized the importance of evacuating coastal areas before the cyclone’s arrival.
By Wednesday morning, over 64,000 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas in Pakistan. Heavy rains and dust storms in coastal regions added urgency to the evacuations as seawater began seeping into villages. The climate change minister of Pakistan warned of potential flooding in Karachi due to the cyclone’s intensity. Karachi experienced devastating floods last year, resulting in loss of life and severe damage to the city.
Researchers attribute the increasing frequency of tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea to warming sea-surface temperatures caused by climate change. Pakistan, especially Sindh Province, is still recovering from the devastating floods in 2022 that claimed numerous lives and displaced a large population.
In India, meteorologists predict that Cyclone Biparjoy will make landfall near the Kutch district on Thursday afternoon. The India Meteorological Department stated that roads would be flooded and houses and crops may suffer damage or destruction. Television footage from Maharashtra showed high waves flooding roads along the coast. The National Disaster Response Force in India has already evacuated more than 45,000 people, with ongoing efforts to ensure their safety. Authorities have advised residents to move livestock, close schools, and suspend fishing activities. They have also cautioned residents in northern Gujarat about the risk of flash flooding and landslides.
A fisherman in the Kutch district described the strong winds and the fear they instilled, prompting him to leave everything behind as directed by the police.
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