Pakistan, with its large population of nearly 250 million people, is on high alert as it braces for an “extremely severe cyclonic storm” named Biparjoy, which is expected to hit the country this week. Precautionary measures have been put in place, such as beach entry bans and removal of signboards, to ensure the safety of the population.
The naming of cyclones in South Asia is managed by the Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC), a committee comprising 13 countries, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and others.
Traditionally, storms were numbered rather than named, but in 2004, the PTC and meteorological departments of member countries decided to adopt the practice of naming storms.
?The purpose was to make it easier for people to pronounce and remember the names. Each country takes turns suggesting a name for each cyclone, following the alphabetical order.
The current cyclone, Biparjoy, was named by Bangladesh. It is important to note that there are specific terminologies used to define the intensity of cyclones, ranging from Low-Pressure Area (L) to Super Cyclonic Storm (SuCS), with Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) falling within the scale.
According to officials, Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make landfall on the southeast coast of Sindh, between Pakistan’s Rann of Kutch and the Indian Gujarat coasts, on June 15 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS).
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and potential flooding in coastal areas of the province.
In response, the NDMA has called for an awareness campaign to inform residents of the coastal areas about the weather conditions and advised against visiting the shorelines.
Fishermen have been urged to avoid venturing into the open sea and to follow the guidance of local authorities in case of emergencies.
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