Cyclone Biparjoy intensifies as India and Pakistan mount evacuations

Landfall likely on Thursday between India's Kutch region and Pakistan's Karachi city

Coastal road workers watch waves hit the city's waterfront during high tide at Marine Drive in Mumbai. AP

Authorities in India and Pakistan's western coast are evacuating people living in low-lying areas to temporary shelters ahead of the arrival of a super cyclone expected to make landfall in Gujarat state on Thursday.

Biparjoy, named by Bangladesh and meaning destruction, has been brewing for the last week in the Arabian Sea. It was declared a severe cyclone by Oman on June 7.

The India Meteorological Department said that Biparjoy intensified into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm” on Sunday morning and was moving north-east at 8kph.

Sardar Sarfaraz, the representative for Pakistan's Meteorological Department, said the cyclone's maximum sustained surface winds were between 160kph and 180kph with gusts reaching 200kph around the centre of the system.

He warned that waves hitting the coast could reach four metres when the cyclone makes landfall between India's Kutch region and Karachi, Pakistan, on Thursday.

Jamnagar, Morbi, and Gir Somnath, home to Asiatic lions and Porbandar districts, are likely to be affected by the cyclone, with heavy rainfall and winds expected over the next three days.

Forecasts have predicted wind speeds of up to 150kph.

The IMD said: “It is likely to intensify into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during the next six hours.

“It is very likely to move nearly northwards and reach near Pakistan and adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch coasts around June 15th as a very severe cyclonic storm.

“Sea conditions are likely to be very high to high over the north-east and adjoining north-west Arabian Sea. Very rough to rough sea conditions are likely over adjoining areas of central Arabian Sea on June 15.”

Fishermen at Gorai beach in Mumbai ahead of the arrival of cyclone Biparjoy. EPA

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a meeting to review the preparedness of ministries, central agencies and the Gujarat government to deal with the situation.

Mr Modi directed senior officers to take “every possible measure”.

“Our teams are ensuring safe evacuations from vulnerable areas and ensuring maintenance of essential services. Praying for everyone's safety and well-being,” Mr Modi said.

Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel visited the State Emergency Operation Center on Sunday to review the preparedness of coastal districts in the state.

Teams of disaster response forces including the army, navy, air force, and coastguard have been deployed to assist the authorities in Gujarat with preparedness, rescue, and restoration efforts.

“Those staying in low-lying areas of Kandla are being moved to temporary shelters in Gandhidham,” said Om Prakash, the public relations officer of Deendayal Port Authority, in Gujarat's Kandla.

The cyclone over the Arabian Sea has caused heavy rains and gusty winds in Mumbai, the coastal city in neighbouring Maharashtra.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered officials to put in place emergency measures in advance of the approaching Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea. AP

The India Meteorological Department has forecast rain and thunderstorm in the city on Monday.

Flights have been partially disrupted in Mumbai ahead of the cyclone, with at least four flights delayed.

“All IndiGO flights are messed up at Mumbai airport now. All passengers are frustrated and there are too many delays. No one knows what’s happening here,” Prudhvi Ram Vedula, a passenger, wrote on Twitter on Monday morning.

Air India, the national carrier, released a statement on Sunday night informing passengers that a runway was temporarily closed because of the weather.

“Inclement weather and the temporary closure of Runway 09/27 at the Mumbai airport, in addition to other consequential factors beyond our control have resulted in delays and cancellation of some of our flights. We regret the inconvenience caused to our guests, as we make all effort to minimise the disruptions,” Air India said.

Authorities have suspended fishing operations in Mumbai until Thursday due to high tidal waves, with fishermen advised not to venture into the sea.

Preparations for landfall of the storm were also under way in Pakistan.

In the southern city of Karachi, roads close to the coast were cordoned off to stop people getting too close to the sea, while more than 50,000 people began an evacuation from Baden zero point villages in Sindh.

About 2,000 people from the islands of Shah Bandar have already been relocated.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali said the storm's intensity had slightly reduced, but that once it makes landfall it could flood up to five metres inland.

Amar Guriro, a climate expert and journalist from Karachi, said the extremely severe cyclonic storm is due to El Nino, a weather phenomenon affecting the Pacific Ocean and global climate.

He said this is evident in many parts of Pakistan, where cold weather is observed in May and June.

Mr Guriro noted that the previous massive cyclone in 1999 resulted in over 6,000 deaths, 150 missing people and extensive damage to over 1.5 million houses in Thatta and Baden.

Mr Guriro expressed concern about the lack of effective alerts or press releases by bodies such as the Defence Housing Authority and the Natural Disaster Management Authority.

“Many people are still present in vulnerable areas near the sea, including DHA, Manora Island, and Dabla Mohallah, where large populations reside,” he added.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said that the cyclone will not affect the UAE.

It organised a series of meetings of the Joint Assessment Team handling weather and tropical conditions – as part of its efforts to monitor and evaluate the tropical conditions in the UAE.