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| Cyclone Biparjoy |
Cyclone Biparjoy, a powerful storm, is approaching India and Pakistan, causing concerns for the safety of the people in its path. Over 170,000 individuals have been evacuated from vulnerable areas in both countries in preparation for the cyclone's expected landfall on Thursday.
Forecasters have issued warnings, stating that Cyclone Biparjoy could cause significant damage to homes and crops in the affected regions. The cyclone is predicted to first hit Gujarat state in India on Thursday evening local time. Reports from the state's coast already show heavy rainfall, high tides, and rough seas.
The expected landfall location is near the Jakhau port, between Mandvi in Gujarat and Keti Bandar in Pakistan's Sindh province. India's weather department has stated that the process of landfall will begin in the evening and continue until midnight.
Pakistan's disaster management agency has alerted residents of possible storm surges as high as 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) along the coastline from Karachi to Gujarat in India. Alok Pandey, Gujarat's Relief Commissioner, mentioned that although the cyclone's speed had decreased, its winds were still expected to be around 110-120 km/h (68-75 mph) during landfall, posing significant danger.
The Indian weather office has cautioned that the cyclone may cause damage to roads, thatched houses, electricity towers, and trees along the coast of Gujarat. Rushikesh Patel, the state's health minister, has urged people to stay where they are and avoid traveling, emphasizing their aim of ensuring zero casualties.
Tragically, at least seven deaths have already been reported in India due to heavy rains associated with the cyclone. Among the victims are two children who were crushed by a collapsing wall, and a woman who was struck by a falling tree while riding a motorbike.
In Pakistan, preparations have been made for the cyclone's arrival along the coast of Sindh province. Authorities have evacuated 81,000 people from the southeastern coast and established 75 relief camps at schools. Karachi, the province's largest city, with a population of over 20 million, is not immediately under threat, but emergency measures are being taken as a precaution.
Meteorologists have issued warnings about high tides that could inundate low-lying areas along the coasts. Several parts of coastal Gujarat have already experienced heavy rains and strong winds since Wednesday. The Jakhau Port, usually bustling with activity, now appears deserted as the entire village near the shoreline has been relocated.
Gujarat state officials have reported the evacuation of 94,000 people from coastal areas. Train services have been suspended, and the ports of Kandla and Mundra, two of India's largest ports, have ceased operations. Fishing activities have also been halted along the Gujarat coast, with fishermen in Pakistan's coastal region advised to stay off the water.
To assist with relief efforts, eighteen national disaster relief teams and twelve state disaster relief teams have been deployed to key areas in Gujarat. Their primary focus will be ensuring that essential services remain unaffected or are restored as quickly as possible, depending on the cyclone's strength.
The India Meteorological Department expects Cyclone Biparjoy to weaken after crossing over land. Cyclones, also known as hurricanes in the North Atlantic and typhoons in the Northwest Pacific, are frequent and hazardous occurrences in the Indian Ocean. The rising surface temperatures in the Arabian Sea in recent years, attributed to climate change, have heightened the vulnerability of the surrounding regions to devastating storms.
The evacuations carried out in preparation for Cyclone Biparjoy have brought back distressing memories from 25 years ago when another cyclone struck the Gujarat coast, resulting in a significant loss of life and widespread destruction. Official reports put the death toll at around 4,000, but local residents claim that the actual number is much higher.
Abbas Yakub, a 40-year-old fisherman taking shelter at a primary school in Mandvi, expressed his concerns, saying, "We have experienced cyclones in the past, but this time it looks very bad." His home is near the coast, and he witnessed waves reaching his house the day before. Uncertain about what lies ahead, he wonders, "We don't know what we will go back to."
In another shelter, a high school housing around 300 people, there is a three-day-old baby named Ishaad. The baby's mother, Shehnaz, anxiously contemplates their future, questioning how she will manage if anything happens to their home. She wonders, "What will I go back to?"