Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, in an emergency meeting, called on local bodies, district administration, and the Irrigation department to be fully prepared for timely action as the province braces for heavy rainfall. The meeting, attended by provincial ministers, including SharjeelMemon, Saeed Ghani, Jam Khan Shoro, and others, focused on strategizing emergency measures. Karachi’s Mayor MurtazaWahab and Sukkur’s Mayor Arslan Shaikh were also present alongside key officials from various departments and representatives from Corps Headquarters, COMKAR, and DG PDMA Salman Shah. Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, meteorologist Sarfraz Ahmad, and others joined to assess the weather situation, with mayors and commissioners from other divisions participating via video link.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) informed CM Murad Ali Shah that a depression originating in central India has intensified and is expected to reach eastern Sindh on the night of August 26th, potentially bringing heavy rain to the region. Murad Ali Shah urged authorities to ensure prompt action, emphasizing preparedness to mitigate any possible risks or emergencies that might arise.
This weather system is likely to bring strong monsoon currents into Sindh, resulting in the conditions as follows: Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, TandoAllahyar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, KambarShahdadkot, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, and Larkana districts may experience rain, wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy-very heavy to isolated hefty falls from tonight until August 31st, with occasional gaps. Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Kashmore, NaushahroFeroze, and Shaheed Benazirabad districts are likely to experience rain, and thunderstorms with few heavy to isolated hefty falls from August 26th to August 30th, with occasional gaps. Karachi Division may experience wind-thunderstorm/rain with scattered heavy to isolated very heavy falls during August 27th – 31st, with occasional gaps.
Moreover, the Flood Forecasting Division of the Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a warning that severe flash flooding is expected in areas along the Kirthar range, Jacobabad, Kambar- Shahdadkot, Dadu, and Jamshoro districts from August 27th to August 31st. Urban flooding is anticipated in the metropolitan cities of Sindh. MetrologistSarfraz Ahmad informed the Chief Minister that Karachi may receive 150-200 mm of rainfall, Thatta, Sujawal, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad 250-300 mm, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tharparkar, Umerkot 500 mm and the rest of the district 70-100 mm. The CM was also informed that torrential downpours may cause urban flooding and rain inundation in Karachi, Thatta, Sujawal, Tando Mohammad Khan, TandoAllahyar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Dadu, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Sanghar districts during 28-30 August.
The heavy rains may cause water logging in Sukkur, Larkana, KambarShahdadkot, Shikarpur, and Jacobabad districts. Furthermore, gusty winds may cause damage to lose structures, electric installations, solar panels, old trees, etc., and lightning strikes may also cause damages. Murad Shah instructed the Commissioner of Karachi that the sea condition, as reported by the Met Office, is expected to remain rough to very rough during the forecast period. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to prevent people from bathing in the sea.
He also instructed the Fisheries Department to provide the fishermen with the necessary advice so that they can take the required precautions during this forecasted period. Measures taken by local bodies: Minister of Local Government Saeed Ghani briefed the Chief Minister about the measures his department has taken to clean the main drains in the city and maintain drainage systems in other major cities. Mayor of Karachi MurtazaWahab stated that he has provided the necessary machinery for cleaning the drains to the towns so that they can maintain their systems.
The water board is also active in keeping their sewerage system functional. Additionally, machinery has been arranged from PDMA and other sources to pump out water in case of accumulation from the low-lying areas.
