The residents of the upscale area of Karachi, Defence Housing Authority (DHA) have received guidance to take necessary precautions as the Arabian Sea cyclone Biparjoy approaches closer to the city.
Within the past 24 hours, the tropical cyclone has intensified into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) and is expected to make landfall along the southeast coastal region of Sindh, between Pakistan/Rann of Kutch-Indian Gujarat coasts, by the afternoon of June 15 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS).
Given the escalating danger, the DHA administration has alerted its residents and advised them to make necessary preparations for potential emergency situations.
A tweet by the official DHA Karachi account stated, “We urge our residents to make preparations for the Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) BIPARJOY.”
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We advise our residents to prepare for the Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) " *BIPARJOY*. Please secure your basement entrance and windows to prevent storm water from damaging your house.In an Emergency, please contact us on our helpline 1092 pic.twitter.com/RTBFQUm7ew
— DHA Karachi Official (@DHAKarachiOfc) June 11, 2023
Residents have been instructed to secure their basement entrances and windows in order to prevent stormwater from causing damage to their homes. In case of any emergency, they are also advised to contact the DHA helpline at 1092.
The advisory additionally provided the following precautions to prevent any adverse consequences caused by the storm:
- Ensure that all compulsory open spaces are free from any violations to prevent water accumulation or flooding.
- Thoroughly clear the drains at the main gates of houses.
- Keep the rooftops of all buildings clear of temporary or unauthorized constructions and materials.
- Conduct roof treatments to safeguard structures from potential damage.
- Secure all exposed or loose electric connections.
- Clean all main holes and pipes.
It is important to note that Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been implemented in all coastal areas, including DHA. This restricts people from visiting beaches.
Additionally, Sea View Road has been blocked from a local restaurant to Khayaban-e-Ittehad. Traffic from Khayaban-e-Mujahid is being directed to the service road, while traffic from Khayaban-e-Ittehad is being diverted back to Khayaban-e-Saba.
In response to cyclone Biparjoy, the government is initiating an evacuation operation along the Sindh coastline today.
The relevant authorities have received instructions to execute the evacuation plan in collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) by tomorrow (June 13), as the storm is anticipated to make landfall on the coast.
