KARACHI – Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday declared anemergency in coastal districts of the province, as cyclone Tauktae isexpected to intensify in coming days, threating coastal regional ofPakistan and India.
The chief minister made the announcement during a meeting held to reviewthe situation amid cyclone threats.
The province will set up a control room at the chief secretary’s office toensure smooth coordination with districts that lie on the coastal belt.
As per reports, the chief minister has ordered the removal of billboardsfrom Karachi as Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted rain andgusty winds during this week.
According to the Met Department, the depression over the Arabian Sea hasintensified into a cyclonic storm and is likely to cause severethunderstorms and gusty winds in parts of Sindh including the port cityKarachi.
The alert said heavy rainfall and gusty winds in part of Sindh areexpecting between May 17 (Monday) to May 20 (Thursday).
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‘”Maximum sustained winds around the system center are 70-90kmph, gustingto 100kmph. The system is likely to intensify further into a severecyclonic storm during the next 12-18 hours and move in a north-northwestdirection and reach Indian Gujarat by the morning of May 18,” it said.
Adding that under the influence of this system, widespread raindust/thunderstorms with few heavy to very heavy falls and gusty winds arelikely to occur in Thatta, Badin, Thar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Sanghardistricts .
Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, Larkana,Shikarpur, Jacobabad, and Dadu are also expected to receive heavy raindust/thunderstorm. Sea conditions will be rough to very rough and fishermenare advised not to venture in the sea during 16-20 May 2021, the alertfurther cited.
