100,000 evacuated as super cyclone sweeps across India and Pakistan

Biparjoy, which means "disaster" in Bengali, is moving across the Arabian Sea and is expected to make landfall as a "very severe cyclonic storm" on Thursday evening local time.

100,000 people died when a super volcano swept through India and Pakistan, picture 1 — People evacuate the coastal area of Keti Bandar, Sindh province, Pakistan. Photo: AFP

Strong winds, storm surges and heavy rains are forecast to destroy a 325-km stretch of coastline between Mandvi in the Indian state of Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan.

The India Meteorological Department predicted the storm would make landfall near the Indian port of Jakhau late on Thursday, warning of “total destruction” of traditional thatched and mud houses.

Forecasters said winds were gusting as high as 180 km/h at sea. By the time it makes landfall, winds are expected to reach 125 to 135 km/h, with gusts of up to 150 km/h.

“More than 47,000 people have been evacuated from coastal and low-lying areas to take shelter,” said CC Patel, the official in charge of relief operations in Gujarat. More people are expected to be moved inland throughout Wednesday.

Indian meteorologists have warned of the potential for "widespread damage", including destruction of crops, "destruction or uprooting of electricity and communication poles" and disruption of rail and road links.

In the coastal town of Mandvi, the streets were largely deserted on Wednesday, with only a few hungry stray dogs wandering among abandoned beach huts, as huge waves crashed against the shore and the sky was grey.

Pakistan's climate change minister, Sherry Rehman, said on Wednesday that 62,000 people had been evacuated from the country's southeastern coast, with 75 relief camps set up in schools.

Fishermen have been warned to stay away from affected waters and small aircraft have been grounded, she said, while flooding was possible in the megacity of Karachi, home to some 20 million people.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast wind gusts of up to 140 km/h in the southeastern Sindh province, accompanied by storm surges of up to 3.5 m.

Five people have died in India, including two children crushed when a wall collapsed, while a woman was crushed by a falling tree while riding a motorbike.

Cyclones are a frequent and deadly threat on the northern coast of the Indian Ocean, home to tens of millions of people. Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world warms due to climate change.

Huy Hoang (according to AFP, CNA)

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