100,000 PEOPLE TO BE MOVED TO SAFER PLACES BY TODAY: Biparjoy ‘weakens’ as evacuations continue

The Tropical Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ has weakened into a “Very Severe Cyclonic Storm” (VSCS)-Category 3, with sustained windspeeds of approximately 140-150 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gusts up to 170 km/h after it started reaching closer to the coastline of the country. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the current location was near Latitude 20.7 N and Longitude 67.1 E, roughly 460 km south of Karachi and 450 km south of Thatta and 565km southeast of Ormara. According to the latest forecast, tropical cyclone Biparjoy was expected to maintain a northward trajectory until the morning of June 14 and then it was likely to recurve eastward and would make landfall between Keti Bandar (Southeast Sindh Coastline) and the Indian Gujarat Coastline in the afternoon of June 15, as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS). The areas likely to be affected included Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Tharparkar, Karachi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Hyderabad, Ormara, Tando Allah Yar Khan and Tando Mohammad Khan. These findings have been developed by the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) Technical team using international and national models (PMD-NWPM, NASA, PDC & UKM, IMD, BOM-A, and ECMWF). Federal Minister for Power, Khurram Dastgir on Tuesday stated that there was no major risk to power infrastructure in the Sindh province due to tropical Cyclone BIPARJOY and all relevant measures were in place to ensure unimpeded power supply. In a joint media briefing, the Federal Minister for Power was flanked by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik provided a detailed account of decisions taken in a high level meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on intensifying Tropical Cyclone BIPARJOY. Khurram Dastgir said liquified natural gas (LNG) shipments were not coming to Pakistan due to the severe cyclone as shipment schedules had been changed. “Our power infrastructure at 1000km away from the cyclone have been impacted. We have decided that the gas supply has been diverted to power stations to continue energy production. Expected impacts like strong winds can impact our wind turbines in Chimb as the wind gusts beyond 90km/h can have effects on its functioning,” he added. He added that the other critical area to be impacted was transmission lines at the local level and also major transmission lines due to cyclonic winds. Moreover, the increased power infrastructure was also vulnerable like in South Thar 2,000 MW of energy has been installed, he said. “We are prepared to manage that power outage. The Prime Minister and Water Resources Minister have allowed increasing power production from Tarbela,” he informed. Khurram Dastgir said in order to make up for the power shortage 48-96 hours oil production would be introduced for power generation. He added that the Power Division would ensure energy generation and no offset would be faced in it whereas no further add up to occur in the existing power outage. The vulnerable power infrastructure area was lying mainly in Hyderabad Electric Power Supply Company which were on alert. “We have restored power infrastructure in the floods in record time and will ensure the same during the cyclone,” he vowed. Senator Sherry Rehman said the media briefing purpose was to update on the meeting with the prime minister. She said all preventive measures were taken and relocation to continue all night from coastal areas. “We are not taking any risk and exposing anyone to this situation whereas no medical emergencies reported yet,R21; she added. However, Thatta and Badin were mostly selected for relocation whereas basic amenities like drinking water would be ensured as per the Prime Minister’s direction whereas Power Minister would be sent to Sindh to manage power outages. She added that cyclonic winds had started and 24/7 monitoring was underway and would continue till June 18th. “Shipping schedules have already been impacted whereas small crafts and fishermen were not taking advisories seriously. The small craft fishermen will have to return from open sea for their safety,” the Minister said. She reiterated that there was no need to panic as government has taken in time action and issued timely alerts to the relevant departments. “Evacuations help in saving lives and we will do it forcibly as it has been done in Keti Bunder. However, Karachites must not panic and take individual precautionary measures,” she added. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the Sindh provincial government, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other relevant organisations to utilise all-out resources to ensure people’s protection keeping in view the Biparjoy cyclone. The prime minister, who chaired a meeting to review the preparedness ahead of the possible impact of the Biparjoy cyclone, asked the Sindh government, NDMA and other organizations to ensure the establishment of mobile hospitals in coastal areas and provide adequate emergency medical assistance there. He said in view of the storm, special arrangements of clean drinking water and food should be made at the camps of displaced persons. The prime minister instructed Power Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan to ensure his presence in the districts of southern Sindh until the effects of the cyclone were over, to monitor the 24-hour power transmission system in the coastal areas. Prime Minister Shehbaz said after the cyclone, the possible damage to the power transmission system should be repaired immediately.