2 killed, crops, houses damaged as Biparjoy passes by Pakistan’s coastal areas

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) – Cyclone Biparjoy passed by Pakistan’s coastal areas, killing two persons, and damaging crops and houses, authorities said on Saturday.

Causing thunderstorms and heavy rains in some areas, the cyclonic storm over Rann of Kutch (India) and adjoining southeast Pakistan (Tharparker) moved further northeastward during the last 12 hours and converted into a depression over southwest Rajasthan (India) and southeast Pakistan (Tharparker), the country’s Meteorological Department said in a statement.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Pakistan’s Sindh province, two people died and three others were wounded in the Umerkot area due to cyclone-related incidents.

The rain and floods damaged crops over some 1,019 acres of land, and partially damaged 515 houses, according to authorities.

Fishermen of Sindh province were allowed to resume their activities from Sunday.

In Pakistan, some 81,925 people were evacuated from the Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, and Malir districts of the Sindh province and taken to shelters.

PDMA said that the evacuees will be allowed to return after a safety check of their dwellings by the concerned government authorities.

“After the warning is over, the public is advised to check and ensure the safety of their homes before entering premises with families,” said PDMA.