Authorities in Sindh are on high alert as Cyclone Biparjoy intensifies over the Arabian sea, heading southeast of Sindh and the Gujarat coast in India. Find out 5 Things To Know!
We are praying and hoping for the safety of us, Pakistanis and fellow Indians from the impending Cyclone developing intensely in the Arabian sea. The cyclone Biparjoy has people and authorities on their toes, nails gripping their seats as meteorological departments keep a close eye on the system developing both across the border in India and in Pakistan.
As of now, the system is said to be 600 km away from Karachi. Expected to make a landfall in Keti Bandar (a coastal area/village in Sindh) at 13th June. Biparjoy is expected to make Keti Bandar and its surrounding area as its land-falling point in Pakistan. Keti Bandar is known also as one of the oldest ports in Sindh.
Here are 5 quick things you may be wondering about or we recommend you should know. Take a quick read!
1.The Origin Of The Name
The impending cyclone got its name from Bangladesh: Biparjoy – meaning a “calamity” or “disaster” in Bengali, pronounced as “Biporjoy”.
Why do such disastrous cyclones get such sporadic names you ask? As per the WMO (World Meteorological Office) names are imperative for tropical cyclones because there can be more than one such system at work in a particular zone and naming the cyclone quite specifically helps in not creating a confusion between the several systems at sea. To avoid confusion, aid disaster risk awareness and management with quick identification of storms in warning prompts, names are decided to be far easier to remember than numbers and technical terms. Many agree that the names make it easier for the media to report on tropical cyclones, heightens interest in warnings and increases community response.
2. Who Decides These Names
13 Nations in South Asia sharing the Indian Ocean region are a part of a committee: Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) that are tasked with naming the tropical cyclones in south Asia. The names are chosen to be easy to remember and pronounce. The names are listed alphabetically country wise and are neutral gender. Turns are decided according to the alphabetical order given by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). These names are provided by member nations of the Organisation, which in this case is Bangladesh.
Countries include Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Oman, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This time, the name ‘Biparjoy’ was suggested by Bangladesh.
3. What’s The Latest
The NDMA – National Disaster Management Authority has informed that cyclone Biparjoy is expected to impact the southern & south-eastern parts of Sindh on June 13. PMD – Pakistan Meteorological Department has said, Biparjoy is now classified as an “extremely severe cyclonic storm” now 600 km away from the coastal city, 80km south of Thatta and 710km southeast of Ormara.
The NDMA has said we can expect widespread wind-dust/thunderstorms, medium to heavy rainfall in affected areas, strong winds, torrential rains, and floods in coastal areas of the province.
The strongest cyclone to hit Pakistan was the one that hit in 1999 in Keti Bandar. The disaster resulted in 6,200 deaths in Sindh’s rural Thatta district, where Biparjoy is likely to hit again.
4. Section 144 Imposed In Coastal Areas
Section 144 Is now Imposed in the coastal locations of Sindh including Hawke’s Bay and Sandspit beaches to safeguard citizens and reduce accidents. Police have been deployed to take action against individuals who in turn violate these rules. Police have been directed to take action against the individuals who violate these rules. 144 is also in force for banning fishing, boating and swimming in the sea in view of the cyclone threat.
Despite the alert, people are flocking to sea view, karachi endangering their lives and defying orders for recreational purposes. It is going to need more administration to contain crowds amid the absence of administration.
5. Precautions Being Taken
Authorities have now begun evacuating people from the low-lying coastal areas in Sindh to temporary shelters in government schools and offices as the cyclone is set to hit Keti Bandar and its surrounding areas. People at least 10 km away from the coastal areas are being evacuated. The heavy rainfalls, high intensity wind, thunderstorms and high tides are believed to be a cause of danger for vulnerable structures.
NDMA has further directed all high-rise buildings and mobile towers in Karachi to be lit up by beacon lights, advertisement boards on poles and buildings to be either strengthened or removed altogether if posing a threat to traffic and people. The authorities concerned have started taking precautionary measures including banning entry at beaches, removal of signboards among others.
Fishermen are cautioned to not venture out in open sea from 11th June onwards till the system is declared over as sea conditions are set to become very rough along with high tides along the coast. The NDMA directed the authorities concerned to run an awareness campaign in the local language to inform people of the coastal areas of weather conditions and issue warnings them against going the sea.
So, guy’s, let’s not be the perpetual thrill seekers we are and end up at Seaview to experience the “cyclone”! Let’s pass the message and stay cautious.
If you want more details and to stay up to date to the developments in the cyclone’s system – keep a look at the NDMA’s website.
