Wind-driven rain pelts shores of India, Pakistan as Cyclone Biparjoy pushes into coast
Wind-driven rain has pelted the shores of western India and southern Pakistan as Cyclone Biparjoy pushed into the coast with the potential for a significant storm surge and flash floods from heavy rain
MANDVI, India (AP) — Wind-driven rain pelted the shores of western India and southern Pakistan as Cyclone Biparjoy pushed into the coast with the potential for a significant storm surge and flash floods from heavy rain.
The two nations had moved 173,000 people to shelters ahead of the cyclone, and preparations were made to provide water and maintain communications after the storm passed. Pakistan's southern province in Sindh, devastated by floods last summer, lies in the cyclone's path.
During the day Thursday, skies darkened along the Arabian Sea, while dust storms hampered evacuation and rescue work on land. Biparjoy had maximum sustained winds of 120 kph (75 mph) with gusts up to 140 kph (86 mph) and was forecast to weaken as it moved into India’s Gujarat state.
In India’s Kutch district, near Jakhau port where the cyclone made landfall, authorities were expecting significant sea surge. Keti Bandar in Pakistan's Sindh province also lies in Biparjoy’s path. The cyclone was forecast to move into Pakistan's southern coastal areas by midnight.
