India and Pakistan prepared for 'the worst' as cyclone Biparjoy hits today

Nepal Views

Kathmandu: India and Pakistan are prepared for ‘the worst’ as the cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make its landfall today.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the Saurashtra-Kutch coast in view of the impending landfall of the cyclonic storm. Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make its landfall near the Jakhau Port in Gujarat’s Kachchh district today evening.

IMD has designated Biparjoy as ‘very severe’ cyclone. The Department added that isolated parts of Kachchh, Jamnagar, and Devbhumi Dwarka are likely to witness extremely heavy downpour.

Cyclone Biparjoy will also impact weather conditions in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and Delhi. So far, 74,435 people have been evacuated to safe places in eight Gujarat districts.

In view of cyclone Bipajoy, the Indian Railways has also cancelled the operation of more than 40 trains in the Western Railways zone today as a precautionary measure in the cyclone prone areas. ‘The passengers will be refunded as per extant rules’, Western Railway said in a statement.

Likewise, Pakistan is also bracing for the cyclone, with many coastal regions on high since Wednesday and tens of thousands of people being evacuated to avoid the impact of Biparjoy.

Currently a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’, Biparjoy has prompted the authorities to take preventive measures to minimise the damage it may cause to life and property. The cyclone is likely to reduce its strength after hitting the land. But the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has asked fishermen not to venture into the open sea until Saturday.

Several low-lying settlements in Thatta and Sujawal, most of which were already evacuated, saw high-tide flooding. Rising seawater levels in other fishing villages, including those in Karachi’s Ibrahim Hyderi and Badin, panicked people. Still, many people are reluctant to leave their homes.

According to information shared by the Sindh Chief Minister House, 67,367 people have been evacuated from the three vulnerable districts of Thatta, Sujawal and Badin, where 39 relief camps have been set up.

Meanwhile, the Pak army continued its rescue and relief operations, evacuating scores of people in the coastal areas.

‘Over 82 per cent of the vulnerable population has been shifted to safe locations. Nine relief camps have been set up in Thatta and 14 in Sujawal and Badin,’ the army’s media wing said late on Wednesday, ‘Troops are on high alert for the next 72 hours and the evacuation process will be completed tonight.’

The Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) has also suspended gas supply from Wednesday to industrial units and their captive power units, the fertiliser sector and compressed natural gas stations to ensure maximum volume of gas supply to the power sectors during the cyclone’s forecast period.