On Wednesday, a high alert was issued for the coastal areas of India and Pakistan as tens of thousands of individuals were evacuated, in preparation for the anticipated landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy one day later.
According to the India Meteorological Department, Cyclone Biparjoy was forecasted to hit the Jakhau port in Gujarat state’s Kutch district on Thursday, bringing along winds that could reach up to 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph).
Officials have stated that individuals residing within a radius of 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the Gujarat coast were evacuated due to the approaching Cyclone Biparjoy. Moreover, those within a 10-kilometer (6 miles) radius may also have to evacuate for safety purposes.
As the cyclone approached the region, five casualties have been reported so far, including three young boys who drowned in the Mumbai coast and a woman who lost her life in an accident caused by strong winds in Gujarat. Rescue teams are currently searching for another person who drowned off the Mumbai coast.
Climate change experts have noted that the Arabian Sea region is experiencing a surge in the number of cyclones, underscoring the need to prioritise preparation for natural disasters. With climate change causing a significant impact on the world’s weather patterns, such events have become more frequent, and governments have been increasingly focused on disaster preparedness to reduce the damage.
Allah Noor, a 59-year-old laborer, who is currently living in a relief camp for displaced individuals located in the Pakistani village of Gharo in Sindh province, mentioned that the soldiers came and evacuated them as they faced strong winds from the approaching Cyclone Biparjoy.
As the Cyclone Biparjoy was predicted to hit land in Kutch, Adam Karim Dhobi, a 57-year-old boat owner and businessman, expressed that this is the most severe storm he has witnessed since 1998.
Dhobi added that all boats have been kept in secure locations to reduce any potential damage. He also mentioned that they are praying to God that the Cyclone Biparjoy doesn’t cause extensive destruction in the region.
The Press Trust of India reported that close to 50,000 individuals have been evacuated to relief camps in Gujarat as a precautionary measure against Cyclone Biparjoy. Nikhil Mudholkar from the National Disaster Response Force was quoted saying that the relief operations in Devbhoomi Dwarka district along Gujarat’s coast were fully prepared and are currently on standby mode, waiting to respond to any emergency situations caused by the cyclone.
Nikhil Mudholkar mentioned that they have 23 teams deployed in the vicinity, and all individuals living near the coast have been moved to secure locations to minimise any potential damage from the Cyclone Biparjoy. He added that as the cyclone approached, the wind speeds have increased significantly, and rainfall has also begun.
Despite the strong winds and heavy rainfall caused by the Cyclone Biparjoy, authorities in Pakistan have stated that people from vulnerable areas of the southern districts, including Thatta, Keti Bandar, Sajawal, and Badin, have already been evacuated to more secure locations. Last summer, these regions were severely impacted by catastrophic floods, leading to thousands of individuals being displaced.
For numerous people in the region, the evacuation was a second instance of displacement in less than a year. Thus, they took as many of their belongings as possible and left the affected area in their vehicles – either independently or escorted by troops – to reach relief camps established inside government buildings and schools.
Bayan Bibi, an 80-year-old woman currently residing in the Gharo relief camp, mentioned that there wasn’t any access to medicine at the centre for sick individuals.
The Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, called for the immediate evacuation of individuals residing in areas susceptible to the cyclone a day before it hit the region. He instructed the local authorities to guarantee the provision of food, shelter, and medical supplies for the displaced individuals. Pakistan Climate Minister, Sherry Rehman, urged people to work with the authorities, advising them not to panic and promising that immediate measures will be taken to ensure the safety of everyone.
According to Pakistan Climate Minister, Sherry Rehman, the threat of Cyclone Biparjoy approaching and making landfall in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, with a 20 million population, has been avoided. She also mentioned that the authorities would assess the situation on Thursday and consider suspending commercial flights if required.
Authorities have reported that roughly 80,000 individuals have either been evacuated or have voluntarily left the susceptible areas in anticipation of the Cyclone Biparjoy’s landfall.
The International Rescue Committee has stated that they are in the process of preparing emergency teams to be deployed in Pakistan, citing a significant increase in the number of cyclones due to climate change. The country director of the group, Shabnam Baluch, warned that the increase in natural disasters may lead to more internal displacement, which could have far-reaching implications on the future of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Electricity Minister, Khurram Dastgir, held a news conference and informed the public about the potential for power outages once the Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall. He added that the transmission lines are expected to be damaged significantly, and as a result, the government has already deployed as many as 2,000 engineers to the southern region to deal with the possible power outages and electricity supply issues.
According to India’s meteorological department, Cyclone Biparjoy has extensive damaging potential and is expected to impact the Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, and Jamnagar districts the most.
Fishing activities have been prohibited in both Pakistan and India until Friday, and all ports in the region have been closed for safety purposes. Dozens of trains and flights have already been diverted or canceled due to the cyclone.
On Tuesday, the Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, declared an allocation of $972 million towards disaster management to assist the country in responding to natural disasters, including the current threat posed by Cyclone Biparjoy.
A recent study has indicated that the Arabian Sea experienced a warming of almost 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since March this year, making the region more conducive to severe cyclonic storms. The study highlights the potential impact of global climate change on the Arabian Sea, and the urgent need for focused attention towards tackling such challenges.
According to Raghu Murtugudde, an Earth system scientist at the University of Maryland, the oceans have already become significantly warmer due to climate change, which could be a significant contributing factor to the frequent occurrence of cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea. He highlights the pressing need to address the issue of climate change to minimise the damage caused by such natural disasters.
In addition to the recent study that highlighted the warming of the Arabian Sea since March 2021, another study indicates a significant increase in the frequency, duration, and intensity of cyclonic storms in the region between 1982 and 2019. These findings further emphasise the need for immediate measures to be taken to mitigate the impact of climate change in the Arabian Sea area.
The most recent severe cyclone to make landfall in the Arabian Sea region was Cyclone Tauktae in 2021. The storm caused significant damage, claiming the lives of 174 individuals. Nevertheless, thanks to the extensive preparation efforts undertaken beforehand, the death toll was relatively low, underscoring the critical importance of swift and comprehensive planning in response to the increasing occurrence of natural disasters in the area.
In 1998, a severe cyclone hit Gujarat state, resulting in more than 1,000 casualties and widespread destruction. Before that, another such storm had hit Sindh province and Karachi in 1965, leading to the loss of more than 10,000 lives. These disasters serve as a reminder of the catastrophic impact of natural disasters and the critical need for governments in the region to continually upgrade their disaster management strategy and infrastructure to minimise potential damage.