KARACHI:
High-speed winds of up to 30-45 kilometres per hour have swept across Karachi, causing widespread damage, including the toppling of trees and signboards.
The strong winds are a result of a storm brewing in the Arabian Sea, which has started to impact the city.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) earlier reported that wind speeds had reached dangerous levels, with gusts peaking at 60 kilometres per hour.
The strong winds have already claimed a life; a 50-year-old woman, Shamim Bibi, was killed when a tree fell on her near Baitul Mukarram Mosque on University Road in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Her body was transported to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for legal formalities.
In addition to this tragic incident, hundreds of trees have been uprooted across various parts of the city due to the strong winds.
Another fatality occurred in Korangi’s Sector 51-C, where a 25-year-old man, Muhammad Sameer, was electrocuted while working at home.
A low-pressure system that intensified yesterday, is now moving towards the northeast Arabian Sea along the Sindh coast, with potential to develop into a Cyclonic Storm (CS) later today.
The system is currently located approximately 190 km east-southeast of Karachi, and is expected to bring widespread rain and thunderstorms across Sindh and Balochistan.
According to meteorological reports, the depression is being fuelled by favourable environmental conditions, including sea surface temperatures of 28-29°C, moderate vertical wind shear, and good upper-level outflow.
These factors are likely to enhance the system into a cyclonic storm by this evening.
The impact of this weather system is expected to be significant, with widespread rain and thunderstorms predicted across Karachi, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, and several other districts in Sindh until 31st August. Balochistan’s coastal areas, including Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Kech, and Gwadar, will experience similar conditions from 30th August to 1st September.
Heavy rainfall is likely to cause waterlogging and inundation in low-lying areas along the Sindh-Makran coast.
The sea conditions are expected to remain rough, with squally winds reaching speeds of 50-60 km/h and gusts up to 70 km/h.
Fishermen in Sindh are advised to avoid going to sea until 31st August, while those in Balochistan should refrain until 1st September.
