India, Pakistan brace against arrival of cyclone Biparjoy
New Delhi/Islamabad, Jun 9 (EFE).- Indian and Pakistani authorities on Friday issued alerts after Cyclone Biparjoy intensified to “very severe” category with winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour which is expected to make landfall in southern Pakistan in the coming days.
By Friday afternoon, Biparjoy was located about 740 km west of Indian State of Goa, and 1,070 km south of the Pakistani city of Karachi over the Arabian Sea, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
“The Cyclonic storm would intensify further gradually during next 36 hours and move nearly north-northwestwards during next 3 days,” IMD said.
The Indian authorities advised “total suspension” of fishing operations in the Arabian Sea until Jun.14, and alerted those out at sea to return to coastal areas.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) also advised its fishermen to avoid venturing into open seas from Jun.12 as it predicted adverse conditions in the Arabian Sea as well as rough waters and high tides along the Pakistani coastline.
“The rain-thunderstorm with some heavy falls and squally winds are expected in Sindh-Makran coast from 13 June night/14 June morning,” PMD said in its latest report.
Cyclones are common in the coastal areas of India. Last month, the cyclonic storm Mocha brought some heavy rains and winds to the eastern regions of India.
In 2022, the Cyclone Mandous forced Indian authorities to order the shutdown of schools, parks, beaches and shops in low-lying areas or near the sea on the northern coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
In May 2020, super cyclone Amphan left more than 100 people dead in India and Bangladesh, in one of the worst such incidents in recent years. EFE
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