Karachi (Web Desk): Tropical Cyclone ‘BIPARJOY’ has weakened into a ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’ Category 3, with sustained windspeed of approximately 140-150 km per hour and gusts up to 170 kilometer per hour.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), its current location is roughly 460 KM south of Karachi and 450 km south of Thatta and 565km south east of Ormara.
As per the latest forecast, the tropical cyclone Biparjoy is expected to maintain a northward trajectory until the morning of Wednesday 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, the Radio Pakistan reported.
The areas likely to be affected include Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Tharparkar, Karachi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Hyderabad, Ormara, Tando Allah Yar Khan and Tando Mohammad Khan.
Meanwhile, evacuations are underway at a massive level from the Keti Bandar area in Thatta District, and a large number of people have been shifted to safer places.
In a statement, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah said that the evacuation of citizens living along the province’s coastal belt continued throughout the night.
He said that Keti Bunder’s 13,000 strong population was in danger, adding that 3,000 people had been evacuated overnight. Similarly, the 5,000-strong population of Ghorabari was in danger, out of which 100 people had been moved to a safe location, he said.
The Sindh CM said that 4,000 people in Shaheed Fazil Rahu also face danger and 3,000 of them have been shifted,” he said.
He added that Badin had a population of 2,000, out of which 540 had been shifted to a safer location.
Syed Murad Ali Shah said that 5,000 people living in Shah Bandar were also at risk of being hit by the cyclone, adding that 90 had been evacuated overnight.
He said that out of 10,000 people, only 100 had been evacuated from Jati overnight.
"So far, 6,836 people out of 40,800 have been shifted to safe places, the Sindh CM said, adding that the process of shifting the remaining citizens would continue throughout the day.
Murad Ali Shah said that the administration would continue to evacuate the citizens of Thatta, Badin and Sajawal districts.
He said that citizens did not wish to leave their homes but there was no other option apart from shifting them to safer locations, urging citizens to cooperate with officials.
Last night, Karachi Corps Commander Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar held an emergency meeting regarding the preparations made in Badin ahead of Biparjoy.
Military officials and heads of civil institutions, including Sindh Rangers Director General and Hyderabad GOC, participated in the meeting.
The persons concerned briefed the corps commander on the preparations, who expressed satisfaction with the timely arrangements.
The corps commander said that all resources will be used to deal with potential threats.
General Babar Iftikhar said that Pakistan Army troops have already reached various places in case rescue efforts are needed.
Meanwhile, Fresh troops of the Pakistan Army have been dispatched from Hyderabad, Badin, and Malir cantonments to help the civil administration.
The troops will assist the administration in evacuating vulnerable populations from the coastal belt.