Thousands evacuated in India and Pakistan as Cyclone Biparjoy approaches

By SIBI ARASU and MUNIR AHMED
Associated Press

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Pakistan’s army and civil authorities are planning to evacuate 80,000 people to safety along the country’s southern coast before the arrival of Cyclone Biparjoy. Thousands in neighboring western India already have sought shelter. The cyclone The cyclone is forecast to slam ashore from the Arabian Sea on Thursday. According to the India Meteorological Department, Biparjoy was packing maximum sustained winds of 180 kilometers per hour (111 miles per hour) and is expected to make landfall near Jakhau port in India’s Gujarat state. Two of India’s largest ports have been shut down as a precaution. Authorities also banned gatherings on beaches and along shorelines during the cyclone.