ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman said on Thursday that cyclone Biparjoy had “slowed down” and will not make landfall before nightfall now, ARY News reported.
“Cyclone Biparjoy has slowed down but core remains intense,” she said on Twitter. “It will not make landfall before nightfall now. More information will be shared soon from the National Disaster Management Authority.”
Speaking during a press conference in the federal capital, the climate minister said that landfall of Biparjoy at the Pakistani coastal belt has been delayed as it has been slow down and it is expected that it would hit Keti bandar area of Sindh province at midnight today.
“Since the speed at which it is moving has slowed by 6-7km, its times of landfall is delayed and it is now expected to hit the shores until after dusk.”
Cyclone has now recurved towards north-east and it is encouraging that it has changed its direction from Karachi, said the climate change minister.
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.
Maximum sustained surface winds are 120-140 Km/hour with gusts 150 Km/hour around the system’s center. “The sea conditions are phenomenal around the system center with maximum wave height 25-30 feet,” Met Office said.
The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy over northeast Arabian Sea has moved north-northeastward during last 06 hours and now lies near Latitude 22.8°N & Longitude 67.0°E at a distance of about 230km south of Karachi, 235km south Thatta and 155km south- southwest of Keti Bandar.
“Under the existing upper-level steering winds, the cyclonic storm is likely keep tracking Northeastward and cross between Keti Bandar (Southeast Sindh) and Indian Gujarat coast 15 June evening (today) as a very severe cyclonic storm with packing winds of 100-120 Km/hour gusting 140 km/hour”.
With its probable approach to the southeast Sindh coast, widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with some very heavy/extremely heavy falls accompanied with high intensity winds of 100-120Km/hour gusting 140km/hour likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts from 15-17 June.
Dust/thunderstorm-rain with few heavy falls and accompanied with squally winds of 60-80 Km/hour likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar districts on and tomorrow.
Dust/thunderstorm rain with isolated heavy falls likely in Hub, Lasbella and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan on Thursday and Friday.
The high intensity winds may cause damage to loose and vulnerable structures (Kutcha houses) including solar panels etc.
Storm surge of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) expected at the land falling point (Keti Bandar and around) which can inundate the low-lying settlements.
Sea conditions along Sindh coast may get very rough and high (2-2.5 meter) and rough to very rough (two meter) along Balochistan’s Sonmiani, Hub, Kund Malir, Ormara and surroundings).
‘Rainfall lashes Sindh coastal belt’
Meanwhile, a spell of heavy rainfall with gusty winds, has lashed Thatta, Makli and adjoining areas under the influence of Cyclone Biparjoy.
Jati, Shah Bandar and adjoining areas, as well as coastal belt of Badin district, also receiving heavy rainfall with stormy winds.
The sea water invading settlements and entered in Kalkachhani severing its land link with other areas of Sujawal district.
‘Evacuation completed’
The evacuation process in the affected areas of Sindh’s coastal belt has been completed and over 82,000 people have been shifted to safer places, according to climate minister.
According to information shared by the minister and CM Sindh, 82,000 people have been evacuated from the three vulnerable districts of Thatta, Sujawal and Badin, where 44 relief camps have been set up.
“17,000 residents of Keti Bandar were evacuated by the administration and 3,000 locals have voluntarily shifted to other localities. Six relief camps of Keti Bandar can accommodate 5,000 persons while 2300 families have already arrived there.”
In Ghorabari taluka of Thatta district, 3,700 out of 5,200 population were evacuated by the administration, whereas, 1,500 individuals have voluntarily shifted to other locations. In three relief camps established in Ghorabari, there is an accommodation capacity of 1,000 persons and 445 families have been shifted.
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