A fierce cyclone ‘Biparjoy’, loosely translated to “disaster” in Bengali, is rapidly approaching the coasts of India and Pakistan.
As per government weather monitors, the cyclone is expected to make landfall today, Thursday (15 June 2023) evening.
Classified as a ‘severe cyclonic storm’, more than 100,000 individuals have been evacuated, as forecasters issued warnings about the potential devastation Biparjoy cyclone may cause, including significant damage to homes and the disruption of power lines.
Threat to Coastal Areas: Powerful Winds, Storm Surges, and Heavy Rains
Biparjoy is projected to strike a 325-kilometer (200-mile) radius of the coastline spanning from Mandvi in India’s Gujarat state to Karachi in Pakistan.
The regions are at risk of experiencing powerful winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall.
The Indian Meteorological Department already predicted that Jakhau, an Indian port, will be most affected by the cyclone’s impact.
Jakhau port is unsafe, as gusts of up to 180 kilometers per hour (112 miles per hour) have already been recorded.
Mass Evacuations and Preemptive Measures
To safeguard coastal and low-lying areas, over 47,000 people have been evacuated and provided shelter in Gujarat, according to C.C. Patel, the official overseeing relief operations.
The evacuation efforts are ongoing, with additional people expected to be moved inland throughout the day.
The Pakistani government took proactive measures, evacuating approximately 62,000 individuals from the southeastern coastline and establishing 75 relief camps at educational institutions.
Sherry Rehman, the Pakistani climate change minister, emphasized the importance of prioritizing lives and warned of potential urban flooding in Karachi, home to around 20 million citizens.
Both India and Pakistan are mobilizing their resources to deal with the impending cyclone. India’s armed forces are fully prepared to provide necessary assistance, as affirmed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Twitter.
