At least 27 have died in heavy rains and winds instigated by Cyclone Biparjoy, which hit four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday.
Overview
Taimur Ali Khan, a provincial disaster management authority spokesperson, said that 12 were “buried alive after the roofs and walls of their houses collapsed.” As trees were uprooted and electric transmission towers were brought down, 140 others were injured, and over 200 livestock died in the storm.
Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed his condolences to those who lost their lives and suffered damage from the storm.
Local authorities have declared an emergency in the affected districts. Meanwhile, authorities warned that the southern regions of the country are likely to be affected by “severe and intense” wind, which will hit land at around 150 kilometres per hour.
All depts in Sindh and Balochistan should be on high alert. #BiparjoyCyclone is unpredictable yet categorised as high intensity. Panic is counterproductive but caution and planning are better than being caught unawares. @ndmapk @pdmasindhpk @PDMABalochistan pic.twitter.com/Bd2W3YDdgx
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) June 11, 2023
To this end, the national and provincial authorities in Sindh and Balochistan are working with the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Maritime Security Authority, Pakistan Coast Guard, and other civil society members to coordinate rescue and emergency operations.
The disaster has revived memories of last year’s floods, wherein unprecedented levels of rain killed over 1,700 and submerged one-third of the country under water. UN chief Antonio Guterres had called the floods “monsoon on steroids.”
India, Pakistan Prepare for Cyclone Biparjoy
Cyclone Biparjoy is brewing in the Arabian Sea and is set to make landfall on Indian and Pakistani coasts by the end of this week.
#NEOC Update:Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm #BiparjoyCyclone
— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) June 11, 2023
Dev path based on intl weather models is for proactive measures against likely impacts. It's evolving sit & impact will only be certain w/ further devplt of sys.
Source:(Disaster Aware, Windy:ECMWF model, Zoom Earth) pic.twitter.com/hZoMkB0m7B
To avoid widespread deaths and devastation, authorities in Pakistan have evacuated around 8,000 families along the coasts of Sindh, including Karachi, to prepare for the Cyclone predicted to arrive on 14 June.
The National Disaster Management Authority in Pakistan warned that the Cyclone would likely intensify as it makes landfall, urging the public to stay away from the shores. However, local media reports showed large crowds at Karachi’s beach despite the warning.
On Monday, the Army will also step in to assist with the rescue operations as the storm is predicted to cause urban flooding from Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in India, the Meteorological Department said on Sunday that the Cyclone will majorly impact Gujarat’s Saurashtra and Kutch regions.
Fishermen in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa have also been urged to refrain from venturing out into the waters. In addition, authorities have urged small aircraft to exercise caution in light of the high-speed winds caused by the Cyclone.