Karachiites urged to avoid unnecessary movement during strong cyclone

KARACHI: Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has advised residents to minimize “unnecessary movement” as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts heavy rains in the city due to a potential cyclone expected to form near the Sindh coast by Friday morning.

On social media platform X, Murtaza mentioned that the city has experienced rainfall for the past three days, with heavier rain and strong winds anticipated in the coming hours. He urged Karachi residents, especially motorcyclists, to stay indoors unless necessary and provided the emergency contact number 1339 for assistance.

According to a Thursday night alert from the Met Office, a deep depression over Rann of Kutch, India, has slowly moved west/southwestward over the last 12 hours and is now located approximately 250 km east/southeast of Karachi.

The system is expected to move further west/southwest, entering the northeast Arabian Sea near the Sindh coast by Friday morning and potentially intensifying into a Cyclonic Storm (CS) due to favorable environmental conditions.

The PMD has forecast widespread rain and wind-thunderstorms, with scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall in Karachi and other districts in Sindh until August 31.

The Met Office has also predicted similar weather patterns in districts of Balochistan from August 30 to September 1. These rains may lead to flooding in low-lying areas of Sindh, Balochistan, and southern Punjab, as well as flash flooding in hilly areas and local streams across various regions.

The Met Office has warned that sea conditions will likely remain rough, with winds reaching speeds of 50-60 km/hour, gusting up to 70 km/hour. Fishermen in Sindh and Balochistan have been advised to avoid going to sea until the end of August and September 1, respectively. PMD’s cyclone warning center in Karachi is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as necessary.

PMD’s Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz mentioned that if the low-pressure system develops into a cyclonic storm, it will be named “Asna,” meaning “highest” or “brighter.”

He highlighted that such a weather event during the monsoon season is extremely rare, noting that this is the first time since 1961 that a system of this nature has moved toward Sindh’s coastal belt from Central India. The chances of a depression or low-pressure area evolving into a cyclonic storm during the monsoon are typically only 1% to 2%, according to meteorologist Anjum Nazir.

In response to the PMD and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) cyclone alerts, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered all relevant departments, including municipal bodies, to be on high alert for potential disasters. Hospitals have also been directed to enhance their management and ensure full staff attendance.

Additionally, the Fisheries Department has been instructed to issue warnings to fishermen, and the Irrigation Department has been ordered to monitor dams, rivers, canals, and other water channels.

The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also issued an alert, forecasting “heavy to very heavy rain” accompanied by wind and thunderstorms in parts of Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan within the next 24 to 72 hours.

The NDMA expects rainfall to exceed 100mm in many areas of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur, with a high likelihood of urban flooding in these cities and flash flooding in local streams and river tributaries. Similar weather conditions are anticipated in Punjab and Balochistan, which could lead to flooding in urban centers, hill torrents, and high river flows.

The NDMA has urged all relevant authorities and the public to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential effects of heavy rains and flooding. Emergency Response Teams have been instructed to be on high alert and to mobilize resources for a swift response to any emergencies. The public is advised to stay informed and follow local authorities’ instructions.