PM praises Sindh's efforts as Biparjoy closes in

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday assured the Sindh government of the federal authorities' full support as the province prepares itself to deal with the fast-approaching cyclone Biparjoy.

Appreciating the efforts of the Sindh government, the premier said that he had discussed the preparations to deal with the cyclone — expected to approach Karachi on June 15 — in coordination with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

"I commend the Sindh government for the arrangements it has made under the leadership of the chief minister," said the premier.

"I assured the Sindh government of the complete support of the federal government. God willing, we will be able to overcome this situation with the support of the people," he added.

The government had started the evacuation process to move as many as 50,000 people from the villages in District Badin in a bid to avoid any loss in the wake of tropical cyclone Biparjoy which is rapidly closing in.

The evacuation drive began from the coastal areas of Badin, under which at least 2,000 people from the island of Shah Bandar were shifted to safe places.

Currently, the Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) lies about 550 kilometres south of Karachi, 530km south of Thatta, and 650km southeast of Ormara. 

"The Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm 'BIPARJOY' over eastcentral Arabian Sea has moved further north-northwestward during last 12 hours and now lies near Latitude 19.9°N & Longitude 67.3°E at a distance of about 550km south of Karachi, 530km south Thatta," Pakistan Meteorological Department's latest update on the storm stated.

The residents residing in the Karachi Defence Housing Society's (DHA) Darakhshan and Sea View areas have been advised to evacuate voluntarily in the wake of Biparjoy — which is now just 550 kilometres away from the city of lights.

CM Shah said that around 32,466 people of districts Sujawal, Badin, and Thatta and residents of 70 dangerous buildings in Karachi are prone to the cyclone.

“We are taking all-out measures to shift the people to secure areas and removing loose installations like billboards, sign boards, and such other weak structures to avoid any untoward incident," said the CM while addressing a press conference at the CM House.

He added that under the existing upper-level steering winds, it was most likely to track further in the North-Northeast direction towards Southeast Sindh-Indian Gujarat coast.

Earlier today, the chief minister — along with Local Bodies Minister Nasir Shah, Sindh Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput — visited Shah Bandar area of the district.

After the visit, the chief minister headed a meeting to review arrangements for mitigating the impact of Biparjoy in the coastal belt at 31 Creek Conference Room in Sujawal.

While briefing the CM on the evacuation work, the Hyderabad commissioner said the evacuation began from Badin's zero-point village Bhagra Memon. He said 50,000 people would be evacuated from the villages of Shah Bandar, Jati, and Keti Bandar.

The chief minister was informed that Biparjoy will hit the coast of Sindh on June 15, but its intensity will subside by June 17 to 18.

However, the seawater will surge as the wavelength will rise up to 4 to 5 metres when the storm hits, he added.

The decision to evacuate areas was taken on Sunday in a meeting chaired by Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon, where the participants discussed the preemptive measures regarding the cyclonic storm.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz, alongside other relevant officials.

The authorities concerned have been directed to implement the evacuation plan in coordination with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) by tomorrow (June 13), when the storm is likely to hit the coast.

Baba Bhit, Mubarak Village, Ibrahim Hydri Village, harbour, and other low-lying areas and villages along the coastal belt are included in the evacuation plan.

The meeting directed the Keamari, Malir, South, and Korangi deputy commissioners to ensure that all the residents of the said areas have been evacuated by the deadline, and shifted to safe places or relief camps set up for the facilitation of evacuees.

Other key decisions

Moreover, directives for the evacuation from "dangerous buildings" have also been issued.

The Sindh Building Control Authority and the deputy commissioners will take "necessary action with regard to the dangerous buildings, building with a weak glass panels, scaffolding at around under construction buildings [...]".

The cranes and other construction machinery installed anywhere in the areas under threat will also be removed.

The evacuees will be provided will all facilities during their stay in the relief camps.

Other key decisions taken in the meeting were the implementation of Section 144 of the CrPC, removal of hoardings and signboards, solar panels, installation of de-watering pumps in the low lying areas and choking points, prevention of electrocution and falling of electricity poles and devising of a contingency plan.

During the meeting, the commissioner alerted all city departments to deal with the threat of Cyclone Biparjoy. He ordered all the relevant bodies to complete their preparations to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone.

Directives to declare high alert in all major city hospitals and establishment of control rooms had also been given.

Biparjoy may hit Pakistan's coast by June 15

Cyclone Biparjoy is likely to hit the coastal belt of southeast Sindh between Pakistan/Rann of Kutch-Indian Gujarat coasts by June 15 afternoon as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS), officials said on Sunday evening.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that the cyclone could cause strong winds, torrential rains, and floods in coastal areas of the province.

The NDMA directed the authorities concerned to run an awareness campaign in the local language to inform residents of the coastal areas of weather conditions and advise them against visiting the shorelines.

“Fishermen should avoid boating in the open sea. Follow and cooperate with local authorities in emergency situation,” it added.