The National Disaster Management Authority has made elaborate arrangements to keep the general public abreast of the latest situation in the wake of approaching cyclone BIPARJOY in the coastal areas of the country.
In an exclusive interview with Radio Pakistan on Monday, NDMA Spokesperson Idrees Mehsud said an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm BIPARJOY is present over the East-central Arabian Sea, 600 kilometers south of Karachi and is likely to move further northward till Wednesday.
He said the cyclone would then re-curve between the Keti-Bandar area of Pakistan and the coast of the Indian state of Gujarat on Thursday as a very severe cyclonic storm. He, however, said that there are rare chances of heading this cyclone towards the Keti-Bandar coast.
Idrees Mehsud said the cyclone may cause widespread squally winds of 180 kilometers per hour gusting in Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker, and Umerkot districts. He said 12 to 18 feet high sea tides are expected, which can inundate the low-lying settlements and may cause coastal flooding.
The Spokesperson said people along the coastal areas may face difficulties for which NDMA is continuously issuing advisories to keep the general public abreast of the evolving situation.
He said we are also in contact with all the stakeholders, as well as relief and rescue agencies, including the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, coast guards, and the provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan, while all precautionary measures are being taken like removal of billboards and loose objects.
Regarding the precautionary measures, Idrees Mehsud said we are issuing advisories through media in the local languages as well so that people can well understand them.
He said as the Radio Pakistan has massive coverage, especially in far-flung areas, where other means of media communication have very less reach, it can play a pivotal role in spreading these advisories so that lives of the people can be saved.
The Spokesperson said the general public should refrain from visiting coastal areas, while fishermen are advised not to venture in the open sea. He said farmers are also advised to manage their activities keeping in view the weather forecast.
Source: Radio Pakistan
