The ocean level has started to rise along Sindh’s coastal belt as storm Biparjoy moves closer to Karachi and other coastal cities, causing widespread evacuations of people from the Keti Bandar area in the Thatta District to safer regions.
According to the most recent alert from the Pakistan Meteorological Division (PMD), Biparjoy, which has been reduced from an exceptionally extreme cyclonic storm to a very extreme cyclonic storm (VSCS), has travelled farther north-northwestward over the past 12 hours.
The cyclone is currently located at latitude 20.7°N and longitude 67.1°E, roughly 450 km south of Karachi and 440 km south of Thatta.
The PMD recognized that sea conditions are “phenomenal” across the system center with a maximum wave peak of 30 feet and most sustained floor winds of 140-150 km/h with gusts of 170 km/h.
The favorable climatic conditions (a sea floor temperature between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius, low vertical wind shear, and upper-level divergence) help to sustain its strength throughout the predicted period.
The cyclone will almost certainly continue to track further north until the morning of June 14 under the current upper-level guiding winds, then recurve northeastward and cross between Keti Bandar (Southeast Sindh) and the Indian Gujarat coast on June 15 afternoon/night as a really extreme cyclonic storm with packing winds of 100–120 km/h.
Emergency Meeting of Karachi Corps Commander on Biparjoy
Last night, Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar, the commander of the Karachi Corps, called a special meeting to discuss the preparations taken in Badin in front of Biparjoy.
Participants in the meeting included Sindh Rangers Director General, Hyderabad GOC, and Army officers and chiefs of civil organizations.
The participants briefed the corps commander on the preparations, who was pleased with how well timed they were.
The corps commander issued a directive to the officers that said, “All sources shall be used to take care of potential threats,” adding that Pakistan Military forces have already arrived at various areas in case rescue attempts are required.
“By no means will the individuals be left alone,” he mentioned.
To read our blog on “Sindh to clear as cyclone Biparjoy is 600 km away from KHI,” click here.
