Current:Home > ContactCyclone Biparjoy makes landfall in India and Pakistan packing powerful rain and wind after mass-evacuations -Infinite Wealth Strategies
Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall in India and Pakistan packing powerful rain and wind after mass-evacuations
View
Date:2025-04-17 02:20:52
New Delhi — Heavy rain and strong wind lashed the southwest coasts of India and Pakistan Thursday evening as Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall. India's Meteorological Department said the storm would continue to churn onto the country's western coast until midnight.
The cyclone, which grew to the strength of a Category 2 hurricane over the Arabian Sea on Wednesday, had weakened slightly by the time it came ashore Thursday between Mandvi in India's western Gujarat state and Karachi in southern Pakistan. The weather agency said it first made landfall at around 7 p.m. local time (10 a.m. Eastern).
Biparjoy — which means "disaster" in the Bangla language — was expected to pack strong winds with sustained speeds up to 78 miles per hour and gusts close to 90 mph. Storm surges up to 13 feet were also predicted.
No loss of life or damage was immediately reported by either country as the cyclone made landfall.
The South Asian nations evacuated more than 170,000 people from coastal areas ahead of the storm's arrival, deployed rescue teams and shut down all major activities in Biparjoy's predicted path.
India's weather office said the cyclone was expected to damage roads and houses, uproot trees and disrupt power and communications lines.
India alone had evacuated more than 94,000 people from the eight coastal districts of Gujarat to safer locations. Pretty much all activities, including public transport, fishing and businesses in those districts were shut down.
"Those who were shifted to safer places include nearly 8,900 children, 1,131 pregnant women and 4,697 elderly persons. A total of 1,521 shelter homes have been set up in eight districts," a statement from the Gujarat state government said Thursday.
India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had deployed more than 30 teams to Gujarat, while teams from the Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard were on standby.
Seven people died in India due to the extreme weather conditions caused by the cyclone even before it made landfall on Thursday, with rough seas and collapsing walls blamed for the deaths.
India also shut down scores of train lines connecting Gujarat's coast with the rest of the country, as well as Kandla and Mundra, two of India's largest commercial ports.
"Our aim is to ensure zero casualties," said Rushikesh Patel, Gujarat's state health minister, appealing to people to stay indoors.
Pakistan evacuated more than 80,000 people from its coastal areas in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces. The country's major port city of Karachi — which has a population of more than 20 million – looked deserted on Thursday ahead of the cyclone's landfall.
Authorities had ordered all businesses and shopping malls in the city to shut down ahead of the storm's arrival.
Biparjoy is the first major cyclone to hit Pakistan since catastrophic floods last year left more than 1,700 people dead and caused widespread destruction in the country.
Experts say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of cyclones that form over the warming Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean — paving the way for more natural disasters to hit large populations in the South Asian nations.
- In:
- India
- Storm
- tropical cyclone
- Pakistan
- Asia
veryGood! (4)
Related
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Tom Sandoval Compares Vanderpump Rules Cheating Scandal to O.J. Simpson and George Floyd
- Joe Alwyn Shares Rare Look into His Life Nearly One Year After Taylor Swift Breakup
- Sheryl Swoopes spoke to Caitlin Clark after viral comments, says she 'made a mistake'
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- See America Ferrera, Megan Fox, Jeremy Renner, more exclusive People's Choice Awards photos
- Evers signs bill requiring UW to admit top Wisconsin high school students
- George H.W. Bush’s speedboat fetches $435,000 at benefit auction
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- First federal gender-based hate crime trial starts over trans woman's killing
Ranking
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- College students struggling with food insecurity turn to campus food pantries
- 'Extremely rare event:' Satellite images show lake formed in famously dry Death Valley
- Today's Hoda Kotb Reacts to Kelly Rowland Dressing Room Drama
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- A puppy is found dead in a backpack in a Maine river. Police are now looking for answers.
- UConn is unanimous No. 1 in AP Top 25. No. 21 Washington State ends 302-week poll drought
- Ukraine withdraws from key stronghold Avdiivka, where outnumbered defenders held out for 4 months
Recommendation
Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
Many people want a toned body. Here's how to get one.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore testifies for bills aimed at making housing more affordable
Disney on Ice Skater Anastasia Olson Shares Healing Quote One Week After Hospitalization
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
Jurors can’t be replaced once deliberations begin, North Carolina appeals court rules
Unruly high school asks Massachusetts National Guard to restore order
US appeals court to decide if Pennsylvania mail-in ballots with wrong date still count