The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday issued an alert for a tropical cyclone, predicting torrential rains and strong winds along the Sindh-Makran coast.
Late on Thursday evening, the Sindh Education Department announced that all private and government schools and colleges would remain closed on Friday.
PMD, also known as the Met Office, in its latest Updates Said that the pressure over northeast Arabian Sea had moved west-northwestwards to 20 kmph during the last 12 hours and now lies at a distance of about 240 km east-southeast of Karachi.
“The system is very likely to move further west-northwestwards into a cyclonic storm during the next 12-18 hours,” the alert said.
Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Thaparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Nowsherofiroz, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Alair, Dadu, Jamshoro, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad from Thursday night till 2nd October (Saturday) , Shikarpur and Ghotki districts.
The department said widespread rain, thundershower activities are very likely to occur over Gwadar, Lasbela, Awaran, Kech, Khujdar, Kalat and Panjgur districts of Balochistan from Thursday to Sunday.
The department predicted that the sea condition would remain rough till Sunday and advised fishermen not to venture into the water till then.
The Meteorological Department said that torrential rains in Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Hyderabad, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Lasbela, Somiani, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Turbat and Jiwani could cause floods in the city.
It further warned that the storm could also damage vulnerable structures.
It said the PMD Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, Karachi is closely monitoring the system and has asked the concerned authorities to be on high alert during this period.
Under the influence of the system, light rain accompanied by gusty winds lashed parts of Karachi on Thursday evening.
Weatherman Sardar Sarfaraz told don.com That the direction of the weather system will be determined once it intensifies into a cyclone – which is likely to occur between Friday morning and afternoon. He said the system is likely to move towards Makran coast or Oman.
Earlier, in a video update, Sarfaraz reiterated that the weather system is likely to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds, and will create dangerous conditions in the sea.
Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Nawabshah, Dadu, Ormara, Pasni and Jiwani are at risk of urban flooding and may go under water in low-lying areas and islands, he said.
He compared the incoming cyclone to another cyclone from 2007, calling them “similar”. He said that after reaching the Arabian Sea at that time, the low pressure system had turned into a cyclone, as is happening now.
He said that in 2007 the cyclone affected the area between Ormara and Pasni and caused considerable damage in various districts of Balochistan.
Electric poles fell, schools closed in Karachi
Meanwhile, three electric poles fell on the bridge near Millennium Mall on Rashid Minhas Road in Karachi, causing traffic jam.
According to the traffic police, traffic returned to normal after the pole was removed from the bridge.
Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Naveed Ahmed Sheikh directed all Deputy Commissioners to remove all “unsafe” hoardings and hoardings from their respective districts, especially on buildings and terraces.
He advised citizens to avoid stepping out of their homes unnecessarily and especially to avoid visiting beaches.
The commissioner has also banned bathing in the sea under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in view of the advisory of the Meteorological Department. The ban will last till October 5.
Municipal bodies need to be activated
On Wednesday, Dr Noman Ahmed – a veteran architect and urban planner – called for preparedness in view of the threat of urban flooding and the flooding of coastal areas.
“There is an urgent need to activate civic bodies for rescue operations and disaster management. Once this impending situation ends, the government must do its bit to find a long-term solution to the urban flooding that the city often faces,” he said.
According to Dr Ahmed, Karachi’s floods are mainly related to the encroachment of its storm water drains. “We have also noticed that the development works carried out in the city in recent years as well as the upgradation of carpeting and roads for rainwater harvesting have been completely overlooked.”
On the official side, the Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Syed Salman Shah informed that vulnerable populations and areas were identified and an action plan prepared.
“We are in constant touch with the Meteorological Department and will take action in view of the situation on Thursday. Two additional suction pumps have been provided to each district, while major drains in the city have been cleaned.