A deep depression located around 250km south-southeast of Karachi is poised to evolve into a rare cyclonic storm as it moves westward towards Oman, raising alarms across Pakistan’s coastal regions.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of the potential storm, which could bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to the southern districts of Sindh, including Karachi, and along the Makran coast.
The depression, which formed over the Rann of Kutch in India, has been moving west-southwestward over the past 12 hours and now lies at around Latitude 23.6 N & Longitude 69.2 E at about 250km east/southeast of Karachi.
Meanwhile, the authorities have ordered evacuation of people from the islands and coastal areas of Thatta District of Sindh as the cyclone brewing in Arabian Sea move closer to the Pakistani coast on Friday morning.
Already battered by continuous heavy rains, many Sindh cities including Karachi have shut down all schools in view of the risk of a cyclone along the coastal strip.
Thatta Deputy Commissioner Manawar Abbas Soomro told newsmen that transport has been arranged for the relocation of people and boats have also been sent to the islanders. He said measures have been taken to avoid any major damage and people are being shifted to temporary camps.
