- Internally displaced persons to be sent back to their homes by Monday
- Sindh CM says life returning to normal in coastal areas after cyclone’s danger averted
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that Biparjoy had weakened into a “cyclonic storm” from a “very severe cyclonic storm” during the last three hours and the system is likely to weaken further into a depression before hitting Keti Bandar.
The alert stated that the cyclone is at a distance of 110km south of Badin, 200km southeast of Keti Bandar and 180km southeast of Thatta.
“The associated maximum sustained surface winds are 80-100 Km/hour with sea conditions being over the northeast Arabian Sea with wave height 10-12 feet,” the alert said.
“The associated maximum sustained surface winds are 80-100 Km/hour with sea conditions being over the northeast Arabian Sea with wave height 10-12 feet,” the alert said.
Earlier in the day, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said that the cyclone had completed landfall in India’s Gujarat.
“Pakistan was prepared but largely spared the full force. Sindh’s coastal areas, like Sujawal, were inundated by high sea levels but most people had been evacuated to safe ground,” she said.
The minister also thanked all authorities concerned for a “stellar coordination effort”.
It said that widespread rain/thunderstorm accompanied by squally winds were likely in Sindh’s Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker and Umerkot districts while heavy rain was likely in Thatta and Mirpurkhas districts today and tomorrow (Saturday).
Dust/thunderstorm-rain with few moderate falls and gusty winds likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar districts today, the alert said.
The weather alert said that a storm surge of 2-2.5 metres was expected along Keti Bandar and its surrounding areas, adding that sea conditions along the Sindh-Makran coast were likely to be rough.
It also advised fishermen to refrain from venturing out into the open sea until the system was over by June 17.
The Civil Aviation Authority also issued a notice to airmen, or NOTAM, in light of the cyclone. The NOTAM said that take-off and landing would not be permitted when the wind speed exceeded 30 knots at Karachi, Nawabshah, Moenjodaro, and Sukkur airports.
‘Life returning to normal,’ says Sindh CM
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said life was returning to normal in the areas along the country’s coastline as the danger posed by Biparjoy had been averted.
He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Sindh government, and law enforcement agencies for aiding in the safety measures taken to prepare for the cyclone’s landfall.
“I am grateful to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who assured me of all kinds of help and cooperation,” he said.
Crediting the Sindh government for taking “robust measures”, Shah highlighted that his party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari “continuously kept giving directions for the protection of people’s lives and property”.
He also thanked the provincial ministers, advisers, other elected representatives, the Pakistan Army, the Navy, Rangers and Maritime Security for their efforts ahead of the cyclone, as well as the PMD.
“Welfare institutions also left no stone unturned in helping the government ahead of the natural disaster,” Shah added.
The PPP leader further appreciated the residents who “left their homes on the direction of the government and went to camps”.
“This is called teamwork. Few examples of such work are found.”
In a tweet, the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Karachi also said that the threat had “diminished” and told residents — who were earlier evacuated — to return home.
‘Chaos everywhere’
Meanwhile, shops had been closed early on Thursday evening in Badin and the usually bustling streets emptied as night fell.
“Everybody is immensely fearful,” 30-year-old government clerk Iqbal Mallah told AFP.
In the early morning, heavy winds were gusting and puddles blotched the roads, as concerns remained despite the storm proving less severe than forecast.
“Shops are closed down early, people prefer to stay at home […] it’s chaos everywhere,” said Abdullah Soomro, a hotel manager in Badin.
Earlier today, the PMD also released data on the amount of rainfall received over the last 24 hours. The data showed that the highest amount of rainfall was reported in Balochistan’s Barkhan and Zhob which received 45mm and 10mm, respectively.
In Sindh, Mithi received 41mm, Thatta 29mm, Diplo 29mm, Nagarparkar and Kaloi 16mm, and Badin and Shaheed Benazirabad 10mm of rain.
Separately, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori has sent food aid for those affected by the cyclone and displaced because of it in the areas of the Badin district.
The food will be distributed to 20,000 people residing in those areas. The governor vowed to “not leave the [cyclone] affectees alone”, adding, “Helping the affectees is the responsibility of all of us.”
Four people die in rain-related incidents
On the other hand, at least four people died in rain-related incidents while a number of electric poles and trees were uprooted in Sindh’s Tharparkar, Umerkot and Badin as Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall overnight, it was reported on Friday.
A day earlier, heavy to moderate rains with gusts started at about 8 pm and continued in different cities, including Mithi, Islamkot and Diplo.
District officials said that as of now, 81mm of rain has been recorded in Diplo, 69mm in Islamkot, 34mm in Nangar Parkar and 28 mm in Kaloi, while 122mm of rain has been recorded in Umerkot district.
“It is raining for the last 14 hours,” said Sajid Bajeer, a Mithi-based journalist. “Officials say it will continue for a few more hours,” he added.
Following the heavy rain, the power supply was cut off in Tharparkar district.
Sindh health department’s Director General Dr Irshad Memon said that at least four people have died in the last three days. “All health department staff is in the field since last week,” he said.
He confirmed that medicines, including lifesaving drugs, dog and snake bite vaccines, anti-biotics and ORS were available in all hospitals operating in the districts.
Memon also said that the families have been provided mosquito nets for children, adding that children will also receive an additional measles vaccine.
He added that the relief camps will be operating till June 19.
“There is no rain in Keti Bandar,” Abdul Shakoor, a resident of the area informed. He said that “there was panic that the cyclone will hit our region but the forecast was not accurate.”
The provincial government has said that the internally displaced persons will be sent back to their homes by June 19.
Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Sohail Rajput stated that the government has successfully relocated more than 82,000 individuals from the coastal belt. The provincial government is providing food and other facilities to 50,000 people in 81 camps, including 5,000 families in Malir, 17,050 families in Sujawal, 23,000 families in Badin, and 5,000 individuals in a camp in Thatta.
He said that after the reduction in the impact of the storm, the affected individuals would be sent back to their homes and the Sindh government will provide one week’s ration to them.
Thatta, Umerkot receive periodic showers
Parts of Thatta and Umerkot received periodic heavy showers under the influence of cyclone Biparjoy, which rammed the Indian coast on Thursday evening.
As per details, Keti Bandar, Sajjan Wari, Ghora Baari, Garho, Kharochaan, Mirpur Sakro, Gharo, Gujjo, Ghulamullah and other parts of Thatta receiving heavy showers under Biparjoy’s influence.
In Umerkot, Kunri, Pithoro, Samaro, Dhoro Naro, Shadi Palli, Khokhrapar and other parts are receiving periodic heavy showers. The heavy rain has brought the temperature down in Umerkot and Thatta.
Earlier, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that cyclone Biparjoy has completed landfall on the coast of Indian Gujarat and is currently 125 km southwest of Thatta’s Keti Bandar. The storm is expected to weaken first to a cyclonic storm and then to a depression by today’s evening, the NDMA said.
“It is expected to move north-eastward and weaken into a cyclonic storm by morning 16 June and further weaken into a depression by evening 16 June,” the NDMA said.
