[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]This week, a “extremely severe cyclone” is threatening India and Pakistan, prompting high-level alerts, evacuations, and school closures.
Cyclone Biparjoy, the year’s first major storm, is predicted to impact the coasts of India and Pakistan on Thursday.
The cyclone, which formed in the Arabian Sea last week, has already evolved into a “extremely severe cyclonic storm,” the second highest category on the scale.
Biparjoy is expected to hit India’s western state of Gujarat and Pakistan’s southern Sindh province with sustained winds of 125-135kmph and gusts of up to 150kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday.
The storm is expected to hit Pakistan’s financial hub, Karachi, as well as two of India’s main ports, Mundra and Kandla in Gujarat state.
In anticipation for the approaching storm, authorities in both countries have taken preventive steps such as evacuating coastal residents, limiting fishing activities, and mobilising rescue teams.
On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a high-level meeting to assess preparations for the storm.
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On Monday, the western Indian state of Gujarat began evacuating people along the beaches and declared school holidays in many districts.
Cyclone Alert for Saurashtra and Kutch Coast: Orange Message. ESCS BIPARJOY lay at 0830IST today, about 320km SW of Porbandar, 360km SSW of Devbhumi Dwarka, 440km South of Jakhau Port, 440km SSW of Naliya. To cross near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of 15th June as VSCS. pic.twitter.com/8gHGLHt1XP
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 12, 2023
Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, declared that all relevant ministries in Sindh and Balochistan provinces have been placed on high alert.
Disaster management professionals have been deployed to densely populated areas and cities in the cyclone’s path.
Update – #cyclonebiparjoy has started to curve towards Karachi and is expected to curve back to guj pak border. As it moves away, chances of #mumbairains for the next few days decline. Actual monsoon clouds ( not impacted by cyclone) seen over kerala and coastal Karnataka. pic.twitter.com/smwwrjcIEs
— Weatherman of Mumbai (@RamzPuj) June 12, 2023
Storm Biparjoy is the first major storm to reach Pakistan since last year’s devastating floods, which killed 1,739 people and caused $30 billion in damage.
According to several scientific evaluations, the growing frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones is caused by the climate crisis. As global average temperatures continue to rise, the oceans are warming faster than usual, allowing more storms to form.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the average ocean surface temperature increased by 0.88 degrees Celsius between 1850 and 1900, with 0.60 degrees Celsius of this warming occurring since 1980.
Cyclone Biparjoy intensifies into a severe cyclonic storm resulting in high tides across the western coast of India#cyclone #BiparjoyCyclone #Biparjoy #CycloneBiparjoy pic.twitter.com/qRZwPc1a1K
— WION (@WIONews) June 12, 2023
Based on present trends, the ocean surface temperature is expected to rise by up to 2.8 degrees Celsius before 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions are not decreased as quickly as possible.
Recent studies also show a troubling warming in the Arabian Sea in recent months, with a 1.2C increase this year since March and a 1.2C to 1.4C increase reported in prior decades.
According to reports, the speed at which cyclones move in the Arabian Sea has also lessened as they become more violent, making cyclones more deadly because they produce rain for a longer length of time.
According to a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, there was a 52% increase in cyclonic activity in the Arabian Sea between 2001 and 2018.
Tropical cyclones are one of the most catastrophic natural disasters, killing about 500,000 people worldwide in the last five decades.
Because of the large human density along its beaches, the Indian Ocean region, including the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, is of particular importance.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
