Karachi (Web Desk): The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) ‘Biparjoy’, which is expected to make landfall on Thursday (June 15) between Keti Bandar in Sindh and Kutch in Indian Gujarat, was at a distance of 340km from Karachi on Wednesday as it moved further north and was expected to recurve north-northeastward.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), maximum sustained surface winds are 150 to 160 Kms per hour and gusts at 180 Km per hour around the system center.
PMD's chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz said that the cyclone had moved north-northwestward during the last six hours.
Under the present conditions, the cyclone is most likely to track further northward until tomorrow morning and then recurve northeastward.
The cyclone will cross between Keti Bandar and Indian Gujarat coast on Thursday afternoon as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with packing winds of 100 to 120 Km per hour gusting 140 km per hour.
The PMD further said that that widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm and rain were likely in Sindh’s Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts during June 14-17. Likewise, heavy rainfall and squally winds were likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar districts from June 14-16 while dust/thunderstorm and isolated heavy falls were expected in Balochistan’s Hub and Lasbela districts during this time.
As per the Zoom Earth, Biparjoy would "recurve sharply northeastward along the northwestern edge of the subtropical ridge and will approach the India-Pakistan border area with significant weakening after 24 hours due to increased frictional effects".
"After 36 hours when the system makes landfall, Biparjoy will rapidly weaken and is expected to dissipate in three days over northwest India," it said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman has said that all state institutions including Rangers, Maritime Agency and Coast Guards are fully cooperating in making concerted efforts for evacuation of the people from the coastal belt in the wake of Cyclone Biparjoy.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt-Gen Inam Haider Malik after chairinga meeting to review arrangements in the face of Cyclone Biparjoy, she said Karachi will not be directly affected by the cyclone, however, its impacts can hit the city.
The minister said 75 relief camps have been established in different schools and colleges in the areas which can be affected by the cyclone.
Sherry Rehman said the concerned authorities have also completed evacuation of the people from Kacha area to safer places last night.
She said so far 62, 000 people have been evacuated, while the billboards are also being removed from big cities for the safety of the people.
The minister said the prime minister has constituted a high level committee to ensure complete preparedness in the wake of the cyclone.
She said that the federal as well as the provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan in collaboration with all the concerned authorities are working to cope with any eventuality arising out of Cyclone Biparjoy.
Sherry Rehman said we are also making arrangements to ensure gas and electricity supply in the areas which can be affected. She said operation of small aircraft from Karachi International Airport will also be suspended this even to ensure safety of the people.
Speaking on this occasion, Chairman National disaster Management Authority Lt. General Inam Haider Malik updated about evolving situation of the Biparjoy and the preparation of the government departments, ongoing evacuation phase and possible effects of Cyclone.
He said the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) Biparjoy over northeast Arabian Sea has moved further north- northwestward during last 06 hours, and now lies about 340 kilometers south-southwest of Karachi, 355 km south- southwest Thatta and 275 km south-southwest of Keti Bandar.
He said maximum surface winds are 140-150 Kilometers per hour, gusts 170 Kilometer per hour with maximum wave height 30 feet.
The NDMA chairman said the Biparjoy Cyclone likely to recurve North-northeastward and can landfall between Keti Bandar and Indian Gujarat coast tomorrow afternoon or in the evening as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with packing winds of 100-120 Km per hour, gusting 140 km per hour.
Earlier, Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Syed Nasir Hussain Shah oon Wednesday said that comprehensive arrangements have been made to cope with the situation possible arising out of cyclone Biparjoy.
Talking to media in Karachi, he said that Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and representatives of the Sindh government are in the field to deal with the situation.
The minister said that 80% people from the areas under threat of cyclone have been shifted to safer places.