A low-pressure system over the Arabian Sea has intensified to a deep depression, according to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director Sardar Sarfaraz, who also warned that the rain-bearing system could become a “cyclonic storm.”
According to Sardar Sarfaraz, Karachi could see up to 150 millimeters of rain in the following two days. He said, “Karachi is expected to start receiving heavy rainfall from tonight.” Furthermore, he predicted that torrential rains would continue through Friday. He believes it has the potential to cause flooding in the city.
Chief Minister assigns tasks
Following the Met Office’s forecast that cyclone “Gulab” is predicted to regain strength and cause urban flooding in Sindh’s coastal towns, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took several precautionary measures and delegated jobs to his ministers on Thursday.
Murad Ali Shah, the chief minister of Sindh, has delegated authority for various areas in Karachi to his provincial ministers.
The chief minister’s spokesperson said:
- Mukesh Kumar Chawla, the Minister of Excise and Taxation, has been tasked with keeping an eye on the situation in Karachi’s District South.
- Saeed Ghani, Pakistan’s Minister of Labour, Information, and Human Resources will do the same for Karachi’s District East.
- Taimur Talpur, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination, has been tasked with monitoring the rain situation in Korangi.
- Sajid Jokhio, Minister of Zakat and Ushr for District Malir.
- Waqar Mehdi, the Chief Minister’s Special Assistant on Political Affairs, and Liaquat Askani, the Chief Minister’s Special Assistant on Katchi Abadi/Human Settlements, have been tasked to monitor the rain situation in Karachi District West and Kaemari, respectively.
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD)
On Tuesday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a weather advisory stating that a low-pressure region is known as a “remnant of cyclonic storm Gulab” is expected to re-emerge over the Northeast Arabian Sea on Wednesday, causing extensive heavy rainfall over the Sindh-Makran Coast.
According to the PMD, the low-pressure region that is currently over central India is expected to travel northwest (towards Indian Gujarat).
The PMD had predicted extensive rain-wind-thunderstorms in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Thaparker, Umerkot, and Sanghar, with scattered heavy/very heavy falls, and extremely heavy at times.
During this time, sea conditions would be difficult, with high tides on occasion.
