National Disaster Management Authorities (NDMA) Chairman, Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, has confirmed that in response to the anticipated severe cyclonic system (VSCS) Biparjoy, over 100,000 coastal residents will be relocated to safer areas.
During a press conference on Tuesday in the federal capital, Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik confirmed arrangements to safeguard citizens against the storm forecasted to land on June 15 between Karachi and India’s Gujarat. Malik mentioned ongoing efforts to mitigate the storm’s impact and weather damage.
Government and NGOs On High Alert
Malik said, “The Sindh government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and relief camp medical missions in Balochistan have been put on high alert.”
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD)’s recent update reports the cyclone moving north-northwestward, currently positioned around 380km south of Karachi and 390km south of Thatta.
Storm Forecast and Preparation Measures
At the same conference, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman confirmed the storm’s trajectory towards Balochistan and continuous communication with the NDMA. Rehman indicated that Keti Bandar would certainly be hit by the storm, with the NDMA continuously monitoring the situation.
The minister reassured citizens that the government had initiated safety measures, highlighting that areas such as Keti Bandar, Thatta, and Badin will be impacted, and all rescue agencies are on alert. Rehman lamented the situation as previous flood victims are still recovering.
In an earlier tweet, Rehman cautioned that despite the storm being downgraded from “extremely severe” to “very severe,” there is a potential for urban flooding in Karachi due to the scale and intensity of the winds. She reported that over 40,000 people have been evacuated, and 43 relief camps have been set up.
The PMD’s latest advisory states that the cyclone now lies approximately 470km south of Karachi and 460km south of Thatta.
