Ahead of its anticipated landfall, more than 100,000 individuals have been evacuated from the projected path of Cyclone Biparjoy, a powerful cyclone that poses a severe threat to India and Pakistan In preparation for the impending landfall, over 100,000 people have been evacuated from the predicted trajectory of Cyclone Biparjoy, a formidable storm that poses a significant danger to both India and Pakistan..
Meteorologists have issued warnings that the cyclone, named after the Bengali word for "disaster," has the potential to cause significant damage to homes and crops. Currently traversing the Arabian Sea, the cyclone is expected to make initial landfall in India's Gujarat state on Thursday evening local time. Tragically, heavy rainfall in India has already claimed the lives of seven people, including two children crushed by a collapsing wall and a woman struck by a falling tree while riding a motorbike, as reported by AFP news agency.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the storm is predicted to hit the coast of Sindh province. In preparation, authorities have evacuated 62,000 individuals from the southeastern coast and established 75 relief camps in schools. While Karachi, the largest city in the province with a population exceeding 20 million, is currently not facing immediate danger, emergency measures are being implemented, according to Pakistan's Climate Change Minister, Sherry Rehman.
Meteorologists have categorized the cyclone as a "very severe cyclonic storm," with sustained winds reaching speeds of up to 135 km/h (84 mph) and gusts of up to 150 km/h (93 mph). Additionally, they have cautioned about the possibility of high tides causing coastal inundation in low-lying areas.
Heavy rainfall and strong winds were observed in several coastal areas of Gujarat on Wednesday as the cyclone approached.
According to the chief meteorologist of Gujarat, the cyclone is expected to make landfall between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan, near the Jakhau port, sometime between 4 pm and 8 pm local time (10:30 to 14:30 GMT).
In Mandvi, strong winds and rough sea conditions were reported on Thursday morning.
As a precautionary measure, train services in the Gujarat region have been suspended, and the operations at Kandla and Mundra ports, two major ports in India, have been halted.
Fishing activities have been temporarily suspended along the Gujarat coast, and fishermen in the coastal region of Pakistan have also been advised to stay away from the water.
The India Meteorological Department anticipates a decrease in the intensity of Cyclone Biparjoy after it crosses the region.
Cyclones, known as hurricanes in the North Atlantic and typhoons in the Northwest Pacific, are recurring and hazardous phenomena in the Indian Ocean. The rising sea surface temperatures in the Arabian Sea, attributed to climate change in recent years, have increased the vulnerability of the surrounding areas to catastrophic storms.
In May 2021, the last severe cyclone in the region, Cyclone Tauktae, claimed the lives of 174 individuals.
