Islamabad (Web Desk): Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Sherry Rehman on Thursday said that cyclone Biparjoy has "slowed down" and will not make landfall before nightfall now.
The minister, while sharing the update on Twitter, warned that while the cyclone had "slowed down", its core was still "intense".
Earlier, it was forecast that the cyclone would hit the shore around the evening.
Meanwhile, Briefing the media persons about latest situation of the Cyclone Biparjoy Cyclone in Islamabad on Thursday, she said evacuation process in the affected areas of coastal belt has been completed and some eighty two thousand people have been shifted to safer places.
Sherry Rehman said the cyclone has now recurved towards North-east and it is encouraging that it has changed its direction from Karachi. She said 17 stations are continuously monitoring the situation.
The minister said four districts including Thatta, Badin, Sujawal and Malir are still under the threat of cyclone. She said the speed and directions of the cyclone have been changing continuously.
Sharing the impacts of the Biparjoy Cyclone, Sherry Rehman said there is a 100 millimeter rainfall forecast in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Adam Khan, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tando Allah Yar and Sanghar, whereas Umarkot, Badin, Tharparkar and Thatta will get 300 millimeters.
Highlighting the contribution of rescue and relief agencies, the Minister said sixteen companies of Rangers and two Battalions of Coast Guards are patrolling whereas 1400 personnel of Pak Army and 303 of Navy are deployed to cope with the emergency situation.
The Minister said our aim is not to create panic among the masses, but to make cognizant them of the evolving situation.
Sherry Rehman said that overall 87 medical units are in the field. She said 63 evacuation camps are active while one hundred and six are standby in order to cope with any untoward situation.
She said Sujawal Grid is being repaired. However, the Power Ministry is taking remedial measures to protect the 90 feeders established in the coastal areas from the impacts of the cyclone.
The minister said that flight operation at five airports including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawab Shah and Mohenjo-Daro is still underway. However, it can be suspended if required.
Speaking on this occasion, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik said the intensity of the cyclone has been decreased. However, its density and outreach is not changed.
He said a total of 169 relief camps have been established and provision of cooked food, clean drinking water and medicines are ensured in the camps.
Commending the services of all disaster related agencies including Armed Forces, Rangers, Coast Guards, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and Joint Maritime Watch, he said they are in full liaison to cope with the challenge of BIPARJOY Cyclone.
In its morning forecast, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the cyclone was expected to landfall between Keti Bandar and India’s Gujarat by evening.
The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) Biparjoy over Northeast Arabian Sea has moved North-northeastward during last 06 hours and now lies at a distance of about 230 Kilometers south of Karachi, 235 KM South Thatta and 155 KM South-southwest of Keti Bandar.
According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), maximum sustained surface winds are 120-140 Kilometers per hour with gusts 150 Kilometers per hour around the system with maximum wave height 25-30 feet.
The Cyclone Biparjoy is likely keep tracking Northeastward and will landfall between Keti Bandar and Indian Gujarat coast today as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with packing winds of 100-120 Kilometers per hour with gusting 140 kilometers per hour.
The NDMA is continuously monitoring the system and will issue update accordingly.
Separately, the Pakistan Navy rescue operations in the wake of VSCS Biparjoy in the affected areas are rigorously underway and so far 17, 000 people have been shifted to safer places.
According to a spokesperson of Pakistan Navy, the rescue teams are carrying our operations in Sujawal, Keti Bandar, Shah Bandar, Chhohar Jamali, Kharu Chan, and suburbs of Janti.
The medical teams of Pakistan Navy are also ready to meet any emergency.