KARACHI -UNS: The landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy, currently classified as a “very severe cyclonic storm”, commenced along the Indian Gujarat coast and the Pakistan-India border at 7pm on Thursday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
The PMD said the landfall would be complete by midnight.
It added that maximum sustained surface winds were blowing at 100-120km/hour and gusts at 130km/hour around the system’s centre while sea conditions remained rough/phenomenal with a maximum wave height of 20-25 feet.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) too said in its latest bulletin that the “landfall process is continuing and by midnight it will be completely over the land. Part of the eye (of cyclone) is over the land.”
Strong winds and heavy rain lashed coastal areas of Pakistan and India as the cyclone made the landfall, the weather office said.
Chief Meteorologist at PMD Sardar Sarfaraz also told Dawn.com that various areas in Sindh had been receiving rain and experiencing strong winds under the impact of this weather system.
He said the cyclone had not directly hit any of the areas in Pakistan as of Thursday night. “However, some of the areas in the country came under its outer periphery.”Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) tweeted that the cyclone had yet not reached Keti Bandar, which is at a distance of 150km from Indian Gujarat, and its impacts in Pakistan would only be certain after further development.
In another tweet posted at 11:35pm, the NDMA said the cyclone had not veered towards Keti Bandar until then.
Citing the (IMD) update, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said the cyclone was “still at a distance from Pakistan, and will likely begin counterclockwise landfall around or after midnight in our coastal areas. The sea may be rough with high waves at the core. Please stay safe,” she added.
As the cyclone’s landfall began, Sherry urged the people not to panic, assuring them that all preparations to deal the situation were in place.
