Cyclone Biparjoy: 62,000 people evacuated from Pakistan’s Sindh province

Around 62,000 people have been evacuated to safer places in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy’s expected landfall on Thursday.

Biparjoy, currently a “very severe cyclonic storm”, is inching closer to India and Pakistan, prompting authorities to take preventive measures to minimise the damage it may cause to life and property.

It is expected to make landfall between Keti Bandar Port in Sindh’s Thatta district and Kutch district in India.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon told the media that some 62,000 people had been evacuated from places which are near the coastline areas of Sindh.

He said those evacuated had been moved to government schools, colleges and government offices with solid walls, roofs and stocked with plenty of food, water and medical aid.

He said in many areas of Thatta, Keti Bandar and Sujawal some families were not ready to evacuate and had to be removed forcibly..

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PDM) has said that Cyclone Biparjoy will make landfall on Thursday afternoon or evening and will bring heavy rainfall and windstorms with it and urban cities like Karachi and Hyderabad could face heavy flooding.