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People evacuated from a village near Jakhau look out from a window at a shelter at Naliya, Kutch district, India, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Cyclone Biparjoy is projected to make landfall near Jakhau port. The cyclone forecast to slam ashore on Thursday is expected to be the most powerful to hit western India and Pakistan since 2021. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Image Credit: AP

NEW DELHI: A powerful cyclone, named Biparjoy, is inching closer to India and Pakistan.

Here are key details regarding its landfall and the preventive measures being taken by both countries to minimise damage it may cause to life and property.

LANDFALL

The ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ developing over the northeast Arabian Sea is expected to make landfall between Mandvi in India’s western state of Gujarat and Karachi in southern Pakistan by Thursday evening.

WIND SPEED

The cyclone is expected to have maximum sustained wind speeds of between 115-125km (71-78 miles) per hour, gusting up to 140 km (87 miles) per hour.

CURRENT LOCATION

According to India’s weather office, the storm, on Thursday morning, lay centred about 180km (112 miles) west-southwest of Gujarat’s Jakhau Port and 270km (168 miles) south-southwest of Karachi.

FATALITIES

Seven people have died in India so far due to accidents stemming from extreme weather conditions caused by the cyclone, including rough seas and wall collapses.

EVACUATION

INDIA: About 75,000 people have been evacuated from vulnerable coastal communities in Gujarat so far.

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A temporary shelter set up at a school in Badin district of Pakistan's Sindh province. Image Credit: AFP

PAKISTAN: About 62,000 people were evacuated from high risk areas until Wednesday evening.

OTHER DISASTER MITIGATION MEASURES

INDIA: Fishing has been suspended in Gujarat and fishermen at sea have been called back.

Schools in the state have been closed.

Operations at most oil rigs and ports have been suspended.

A total of 67 trains have been cancelled.

People have been banned from using the beaches in the state.

Cumulatively, 30 teams of the national and state disaster response forces have been deployed.

PAKISTAN: Ships and boats have been moved from some areas of the country’s coast.

Hospitals have been put on high alert.

Auditoriums in schools and other government buildings have been converted into relief camps to shelter displaced people.

Emergency measures are being taken in the port city of Karachi, which is expected to be battered by winds and rain.