The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning on Thursday, indicating that a severe low-pressure system over the Arabian Sea is likely to evolve into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours.
PMD’s Chief Meteorologist, Sardar Sarfaraz, mentioned that if this low-pressure system does develop into a cyclonic storm, it will be named “Asna,” meaning “highest” and “brighter.”
Sarfaraz noted that such a cyclonic storm during the monsoon season is highly unusual, marking the first time since 1961 that a weather system like this is headed towards Sindh’s coastal areas from Central India.
Meteorologist Anjum Nazir told Geo News that during the monsoon season, the chances of a depression or low-pressure system turning into a cyclonic storm or tropical cyclone are only around 1% to 2%.
Currently, a deep depression over India’s Rann of Kutch is situated 270km east/southeast of Karachi and is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by tonight or Friday morning if the weather conditions remain favorable.
The Met Office anticipates that the potential storm and associated weather system will bring heavy rainfall to Pakistan’s coastal regions, including lower Sindh and Karachi.
In response, the PMD’s cyclone warning center in Karachi has advised fishermen in lower Sindh and Balochistan to avoid going to sea until August 31 due to the potential cyclone.
This system is expected to cause widespread heavy rainfall, with isolated areas experiencing extremely heavy downpours in districts such as Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sajawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Karachi until August 31, with some intermittent breaks.
These torrential rains may lead to urban flooding or inundation in low-lying areas of Sindh, Balochistan, and southern Punjab.
Additionally, flash floods could occur in hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and local streams in Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Kalat, Khuzdar, Jaffarabad, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Barkhan, Loralai, Awaran, Panjgur, Washuk, Mastung, and Lasbella.
Heavy rainfall might also trigger landslides in Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
CM Sindh Issues Directives on Cyclone Alert
In light of the cyclone alert issued by the PMD and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has instructed all relevant departments, including administrative and municipal bodies, to be on high alert for potential disasters.
The chief minister also directed hospitals to improve their management and ensure staff availability.
Furthermore, he ordered the Fisheries department to issue warnings to fishermen and instructed the Irrigation department to monitor rivers, canals, and other water bodies.
NDMA Alerts Authorities
The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued an alert to relevant departments, predicting more “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 statement highlighted that rainfall is expected to exceed 100mm in many parts of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur. It warned that heavy rain could lead to urban flooding in cities like Karachi and Hyderabad, as well as flash flooding in local streams and rivers.
The NDMA urged all relevant authorities and the public to take necessary precautions to minimize the potential impacts of the heavy rains and flooding.
Emergency Response Teams have been instructed to remain on high alert and mobilize resources to ensure a quick response to any emergencies.
The public is advised to stay vigilant and follow instructions from local authorities.
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