KARACHI:The powerful cyclone Biparjoy is heading to the coastline of Pakistan with more intensity on Sunday. Sindh and Balochistan have issued red alert and banned fishing and swimming along the coastal areas after the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) “BIPARJOY” over east central Arabian Sea is maintaining its intensity and is hardly 760 kilometers away from Karachi and 750km from Thatta.

The administration of the southern port city of Karachi imposed a complete ban on going into open sea for sailing, fishing, swimming or bathing under Section 144. The ban was imposed after the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued an alert, advising fishermen not to venture in open sea from Monday, 12 June 2023 onwards till the system is over as the “Arabian Sea conditions may get very rough/high accompanied with high tides along coast”.

The tides could rise up to 10 feet as soon as the cyclone that has gained strike the coastal belt. Fishermen are reportedly ignoring the warnings, while some families have also been spotted at beaches. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) alert issued around 9.45pm on Saturday, the system was located 840km south of Karachi, 830km south of Thatta and 930km southeast of Ormara.

The Met department stated that the very severe cyclonic storm - Biparjoy - over east-central Arabian Sea was maintaining its intensity and had further tracked north-northeastward during the past 12 hours.

“It now lies near Latitude 17.3°N and Longitude 67.4°E at a distance of about 840km south of Karachi, 830km south of Thatta and 930km southeast of Ormara.

PMD alerts authorities to remain vigilant

The Extremely Severe Cyclone Storm (ESCS) “BIPARJOY” may probably approach the southeast Sindh coast and cause widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with some very heavy/extremely heavy falls at few districts of Sindh between June 13-17.

About the possible impacts of the cyclone, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has revealed on Sunday that “With its probable approach to the southeast Sindh coast, widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with some very heavy/extremely heavy falls accompanied with squally winds of 80-100Km/hour likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker and Umerkot districts during June 13-17”.

“Dust/thunderstorm-drain with few heavy falls and accompanied with squally winds of 60-80 Km/hour is likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Mirpurkhas districts from June 13/14 and June 16”, the PMD said.

Squally (high intensity) winds may damage loose and vulnerable structures. Storm surge of 3-3.5 meters (8-12 feet) is expected at the land falling point (Keti Bandar and around). The PMD has advised the fishermen not to venture in open sea till the system is over by June 17, as the Arabian Sea conditions may get very rough/high accompanied with high tides along coast. The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) “BIPARJOY” over east central Arabian Sea has been intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS), moved northward during last 12 hours and now lies near Latitude 18.1°N and Longitude 67.5°E at a distance of about 760km south of Karachi, 740km south of Thatta and 840km southeast of Ormara.

Maximum sustained surface winds are 150-160 Km/hour gusts 180 Km/hour around the system center with and sea conditions being phenomenal around the system canter with maximum wave height 35-40 feet. The favorable environmental conditions (sea surface temperature of 30-32°C, low vertical wind shear and upper-level divergence) are supporting the system to maintain its intensity.