The formidable Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ which has been advancing over the east-central Arabian Sea, has now escalated to an ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm’, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The maritime tempest is said to be moving northwards with expectations to touch base with the coasts of Pakistan and adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch regions this coming Thursday.
An Intense Cyclone Poses Severe Threats
As we understand, the categorisation of cyclones is done by the IMD based on the 3-minute average maximum sustained wind speeds. The current status of ‘Biparjoy’ as an ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm’ suggests wind speeds ranging between 166-220 kmph. Coastal Gujarat and Maharashtra, alongside Goa and other coastal regions, were alerted on Saturday to brace for the storm’s fury as it’s projected to intensify in the next 24 hours. In light of this, Tithal Beach in Valsad, Gujarat, a popular destination on the Arabian Sea coast, has been temporarily closed for tourists until June 14.
Preparatory Measures and Warnings Issued
For the safety of local communities, orders were also issued to fishing operations to stand down for the next five days in the eastern and central Arabian Sea, including the Indian Saurashtra and Kutch region. The IMD has also cautioned about heavy rainfall at isolated places in Kerala and coastal Karnataka in the upcoming days.
On the other side of the border, Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif has instructed for emergency measures to be implemented, in anticipation of the cyclone. The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in response, has issued a ‘red alert’ and suspended shipping activities in lieu of the intensifying cyclone.
With such extreme weather conditions imminent, citizens are urged to stay informed and follow guidelines issued by their local meteorological departments. As we all know, “Forewarned is forearmed”, let’s hope the preparations are adequate and the cyclone’s impact can be minimised. Stay safe, everyone!
Also read: Weather Update: Monsoon’s Melody! Rain and Thunderstorms to lash South India Amidst Sizzling Heat in the North, details
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