Live Karachi weather updates: PMD says cyclone 240km to east-southeast

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a warning for the likelihood that a cyclonic storm will develop along the Sindh-Makran coast within the next 18 hours.

The Met Office, in the latest advisory issued on Thursday evening, said that "the depression over northeast Arabian Sea has moved west-northwestward at a speed of 20km/h during last 12 hours, and now lies at latitude 23.0N and longitude 67.8E, at a distance of about 240km east-southeast of Karachi".

It further stated that it is at a distance of 200km from Thatta and 410km from Ormara. 

"The system is likely to strengthen further into a cyclonic storm during next 12-18 hours and move west-northwestwards," it added.

Influence of the weather system

Possible impacts

The sea conditions in this period would remain rough/very rough with high surges at times. This will continue till Sunday, October3.

Fishermen are advised not to venture in the sea from today to Sunday, October 3.

Torrential rains may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Hyderabad, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Lasbela, Sonmiani, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Turbat, and Jandiwani.

Windstorms may cause damage to vulnerable structures.

PMD's Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Karachi is closely monitoring the system and updates will be issued accordingly.

Updates for Thursday are posted below:

---

END OF LIVE UPDATES FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

11:50pm — Educational institutes across Sindh to remain closed tomorrow

Minister for Education Sindh Syed Sardar Shah has announced the closure of all educational institutes across Sindh tomorrow.

Due to the weather forecast predicting heavy rains, educational institutes will remain closed tomorrow, he said.

Shah said that the decision extends to all educational institutes — both public and private.

11:06pm — Shahbaz Sharif asks PML-N members to help out in their neighbourhoods

PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif has asked all PML-N workers to fully participate in aiding the people around them in view of expected heavy rains.

"I pray to God for His mercy in the rains due to the tropical cyclone," he wrote in a message on Twitter.

"I am saddened to learn of the damage caused by the cyclonic winds," he added.

Shahbaz also asked that everyone pray for the safe return of fishermen who are still out to sea.

10:40pm — Karachi administrator says local govt has learned much from last year's rains

Karachi administrator Murtaza Wahab has said that much has been learned from last year's rains and wherever the local government was at fault, solutions have been implemented this time around.

In a conversation with Geo News on programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath", Wahab said that the city administration is trying its best to effectively deal with the situation.

"I will not say that the situation will be kept under control, but the staff is doing its utmost," he said.

The administrator said that a plan is in place for drainage of water from New Karachi, North Karachi, and Paposh.

"Whatever situation emerges, we will fully stand by the people of Karachi," Wahab vowed.

10:09pm — Karachi citizens barred from bathing, diving, swimming, fishing in sea

Karachi citizens have been barred from bathing, diving, swimming and fishing in the sea within the territorial limits of Karachi, with effect from today to Tuesday, October 5.

A notification by the Karachi commissioner states that in the wake of the high alert issued by Pakistan Meteorological Department about the formation of tropical cyclone Shaheen, which may very well hit the city within a few hours with heavy rains and winds of up to 90km/hr, high surges in the sea may follow, which will result in loss of life.

Therefore, the ban has been imposed to preempt and stop any event of drowning.

The commissioner has also authorised the deputy and assistant commissioners to take action against violators in coordination of senior superintendents of police and get them booked under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

09:38pm — Light rain continues in Gulshan

9:19pm — Karachi commissioner advises citizens to stay indoors

Commissioner Karachi Navid Ahmed Shaikh has issued a warning in view of the fast approaching cyclone Shaheen.

He said that speedy winds and thunderstorms are expected in tandem with rain.

"Citizens are requested to remain indoors and avoid leaving home unnecessarily," the commissioner said, adding that no one should go towards the coast.

8:34pm — Light rain in Karachi's Defence, Clifton

Karachi citizens living in Defence, Clifton and adjoining areas have reported light, intermittent rain.

8:20pm — Rains in various parts of Sindh

Rain has begun to fall in various parts of Sindh including Shahdadkot and Dadu.

In Shahdadkot, the city and its adjoining areas both witnessed rainfall, due to which the low-lying areas became flooded with water.

A similar situation was witnessed in Dadu, where intermittent rainfall has been reported, and where a power outage has added to the woes of the citizens.

8:12pm — Saeed Ghani orders arrangements to tow away faulty vehicles, prevent choking of drains

Sindh Information and Labour Minister, Saeed Ghani, has directed the officials concerned to ensure the availability of standby arrangements to tow away motor vehicles, which would become faulty and stuck due to heavy rains in different choking points in District East of Karachi.

The Sindh information minister has been assigned the responsibility of supervising emergency arrangements made in District East during the expected heavy rains over the next few days.

Ghani, while chairing a meeting, said that rainwater was expected to get accumulated in areas of Nursery, NIPA, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Jamshed Road, Jahangir Road, and adjacent localities of District East.

He said the officials should also make efforts to ensure the availability of motor mechanics to repair the faulty vehicles during downpours.

The minister asked the officials concerned to establish a rain emergency centre in DC East House to monitor the rain situation. He said that a Whatsapp group should also be formed to ensure better coordination among the concerned officials of the district during rain emergency.

The information minister also directed the officials concerned to ensure availability of de-watering machinery from Nursery's furniture market till Shahrah-e-Faisal, as the troubled spots have witnessed urban flooding during heavy rains in the past.

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation officials informed the meeting that there are six major stormwater drains of the KMC in District East.

Ghani asked the officials concerned to keep an eye on all the choking points of these drains and also to ensure the deployment of machinery required to deal with any eventuality to be caused by urban flooding.

Administrator of District Municipal Corporation, East, Shoaib Ahmed, said that DMC East manages 39 small drains in the district and 90% de-silting work had been completed to make these drains functional during the current monsoon season.

Deputy Commissioner District East Asif Jan Siddiqui briefed the meeting about arrangements so far done to tackle any situation of rain emergency in the district.

Later on, Ghani visited various areas of District East, including Nursery, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karsaz, Stadium Road, and other spots to personally inspect emergency measures taken at these places.

7:32pm — Administrator South says rain emergency measures in place

Administrator South Dr Afshan Rabab Syed says for immediate redressal of public grievances citizens can call 99211429 and 99211390.

At the emergency Centre, the staff of Parks, Building and Roads and Mechanical and Electrical Department, including sanitary and sewerage staff, are present, Dr Rabab said.

She said special attention has been paid to clear 12 choke points and that steps have been taken to address the problem of rainwater accumulation in District South, especially in the Old City area. 

Dr Rabab added that it is expected that K-Electric will keep pumping stations exempt from loadshedding and that all pumping stations of the Water Board will be at the ready with stand by generators.

People should avoid touching power lines and poles during rains and afterwards, she said.

Arrangements have been made to install dewatering pumps and other machines for drainage from low lying areas, she added.

The Department of Horticulture will be available on the field to remove signboards and trees in the event they fall, the administrator said.

7:20pm — Stormwater drainage reviewed in Karachi's South district

Provincial Minister for Excise Mukesh Kumar Chawla accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner District South Irshad Sodhar visited Saddar, Clifton, Lyari and other areas and checked stormwater drains for proper functioning.

Staff has been kept on high alert in view of rains with all holidays cancelled, Sodhar said in his briefing to the provincial minister, adding that machinery is kept on hand to timely drain out accumulated water from streets.

He further stated that cleaning of all drains in District South has been completed.

7:10pm — Drizzling at I I Chundrigar road, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Surjani Town

A photo taken on I I Chundrigar Road shows commuters carefully navigating on roads rendered wet by drizzling.

7:08pm — People turn to memes to quash anxiety over cyclone

As anxiety grows over what the cyclone will bring to Karachi, people are turning to their medium of choice — memes — to poke humour at the situation.

7:02pm — System to strengthen into cyclonic storm in next 12-18 hours: PMD

6:50pm — Drizzling in North Nazimabad

6:35pm — Karachi commissioner orders deputy commissioners to survey their areas

Karachi Commissioner Navid Ahmed Shaikh has ordered that all deputy commissioners survey their respective areas in view of the rain forecast and as showers begin in several areas of the city.

He asked that all signboards on buildings and rooftops be immediately removed.

6:20pm — Korangi, adjoining areas experience moderate rain

Moderate rain is being reported from Korangi and its adjoining areas, along with fast winds blowing.

5:30pm — Rainfall in several Sindh cities, including Thatta and Badin

Several cities of Sindh along the coastal belt, including Thatta and Badin have begun to receive rainfall.

Stormy winds are blowing along the Keti Bandar port and several huts belonging to fishermen have been swept away.

Most fishermen have parked their boats along the shore and are avoiding going out to sea.

Balochistan's coastal areas are also expected to receive heavy rainfall.

PMD has asked fishermen to refrain from venturing out to sea from today to Sunday, October 3.

5:20pm — Strong winds blow in Ibrahim Hyderi; 17 fishermen launches yet to return

Strong winds are blowing at Ibrahim Hyderi, with most fishermen back ashore.

However, 17 launches have yet to return from the deep sea area.

According to Geo News, of 1,561 launches, 1,271 have reached safety.

Fishermen Cooperative Society says it is trying to get in touch with the launches still out to sea.

5:12pm — Technical board exams postponed

Sindh Board of Technical Education has announced it is postponing exams due to the rain forecast.

5:00pm — Cyclone may fully develop in the next 12 hours: PMD

PMD has warned that a deep depression may form into a cyclone by 5am tomorrow.

It added that if a cyclone forms, it will be given the name "Shaheen".

Strong winds will blow and it is predicted that 100-160mm of rain will fall in Karachi over the next few hours. Rain has already begun to fall in several areas of Karachi.

Near Frere Hall, an electricity pole fell down, besides a tree, due to the strong winds, but no injury to any person was reported.

Over at Johar Morr, three poles toppled down outside the shopping plaza.