Biperjoy: Sindh Coastline Authority step up evacuation before landfall

ISLAMABAD 14 June (Online): As Cyclone Biparjoy edges closer, Sindh’s coastline, authorities have speed up evacuations in the province including Keti Bundar, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal and Karachi considering them vulnerable to landfall of cyclone.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in latest updates gave cyclone distance of 340km from south and south-west Karachi coast and 355km from South-southwest of Thatta and 275km south-southwest of Keti Bandar.

Alerts further warned that the ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ was now likely to recurve across keti Bandar to Indian Gujarat coast on June 15, and the winds of 100 to 120km/h expected

According to Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, over 60,000 people have been evacuated to safer locations across the province, excluding Karachi.

In the port city, areas falling under the jurisdiction of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) have been marked as some of the hotspots that could be affected by the storm. However, residents seem to be confused regarding evacuations.

The DHA has turned four of its schools and colleges into relief camps. These include the DHACSS campuses in Phases VII and VIII, SKBZ in Phase VI and the Degree College also in Phase VI.

Rizvi explained that Seaview and Darakhshan areas were the top priority for evacuations at the moment because of their proximity to the sea. “There are predictions of high tides during the cyclone’s landfall which could put the residents at risk.”

With regards to the other areas administered by DHA, Rizvi explained they were low-lying and prone to inundation as witnessed during the 2020 rains. He clarified, however, that mandatory evacuations had not yet begun in any of these areas; instead, the authority was focusing on raising awareness on how to mitigate the effects of the cyclone.

During a visit to the Creek campus in Phase VIII, however, the school had diverted all its resources towards other branches and the centre had been shut down.

At the DHACSS Phase VII campus, preparations have been completed with beds set up in 14 classrooms — one room can accommodate upto eight people. The school’s principal, Uzma Mehmood, said the relief centres would stay open till June 16.