Cyclone Biparjoy will strike Sindh’s Keti Bandar by 11 am on Thursday.
Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman told the media that the cyclone was moving away from Karachi; however, it would strike Keti Bandar at 11 am on Thursday.
Sherry Rehman confirmed that as many as 66,000 people had been evacuated from the coastal areas of Sindh to safer locations.
The minister urged the public to cooperate with the authorities, emphasizing the readiness of all rescue agencies for relief operations. Districts expected to be most affected by the cyclone include Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, and Tharparkar.
Suspension of Flight Operations
In anticipation of the cyclone, authorities have suspended small aircraft operations. The same measure may apply to commercial flight operations as the cyclone approaches closer. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has been providing continuous updates on the cyclone’s path and strength.
Preventive Measures and Government Response
Earlier, Minister Rehman informed the National Assembly about the government’s diligent monitoring of Tropical Cyclone Biparjoy, which is progressing toward the coastlines of Pakistan and India. All tracking institutions, including the PMD and Suparco, work round the clock with international satellites to monitor the cyclone’s progress.
The minister underscored that the cyclone could affect Karachi’s coastal areas with landfalls and gusty winds but is moving away from Balochistan. She stated that the Sindh government has established around 75 relief camps and evacuated more than 62,000 people to safer places with clean drinking water, food, and medical facilities.
The minister also addressed residents’ concerns regarding the decision to evacuate. PMD Sindh Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz stated that the storm’s intensity had decreased somewhat, and Karachi had no dangerous situation. Nevertheless, the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has urged residents of certain areas to evacuate due to the risk of high tides.
