KARACHI - Pakistan Meteorological Department has claimed that Karachi is out of danger from the threat of tropical cyclone Nilofar as it was weakening gradually and is expected to move towards Indian coastal belt after covering a distance of 250 kilometers from Karachi.
The Met Department in Thursday’s tropical cyclone advisory stated that Nilofar will cross the coastal areas of Sindh as the depression with wind speed of 70-80 kilometres per hour gusting up to 90 kilometres per hour.
It further said that Nilofar was weakening gradually and it had been converted into a severe tropical storm. Its intensity has been reduced from Category 3 to 2 and if it continues to weaken further, it will be downgraded to Category 1 in next few hours.
It said the cyclone was presently located about 600 kilometres south-west of Karachi and likely to hit the Indian state of Gujrat. Under the influences of this storm, widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rain accompanied by strong gusty winds are expected in Karachi, Thatta, Badin and other areas of Lower Sindh and the adjoining coast of Balochistan, from Thursday night till Saturday. The cyclone would continue to move north eastward towards the adjoining coastal areas of lower Sindh and Indian Gujrat with a speed of 14-km hour during the next 24 hours.
At present, the estimated central pressure of cyclone is 994 hpa and the average sustained wind speed around is 70-80 knots gusting up to 90 knots.
Meanwhile, the port city is experiencing cloudy weather and drizzling at the coastal belt ahead of cyclone Nilofar and Sindh government had declared red alert in the coastal areas. It has also announced a holiday on Friday.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah made surprise visit to various beaches of the City and review precautionary measures taken by the government to deal with the tropical storm. During his visit to the relief camp of Ibrahim Hyderi established by government, he showed annoyance over the lack of cleanliness work in the areas. He directed to take immediate measures to start cleaning work in the area. He further directed of making arrangement for boarding and lodging of the coastal area residents who are being shifted to safer places.
He advised the people to restrict their movement to avoid mishaps from the gusty winds and heavy rains during the coming two days. Moreover, as a preventive measure ahead of expected tropical cyclone, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has set up special disaster management wards comprising around 200 beds in four of its hospitals. Emergency has been imposed in all the KMC-run hospitals and all leaves of medial and paramedical staff have been cancelled.
The management has set up 100-bed disaster management ward at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital whereas similar wards of 20 beds were also established at Landhi Medical Complex, Sobhraj Maternity Hospital, Gazdarabad Maternity and General Hospital and Sarfaraz Rafique Shaheed Hospital. The KIHD was also prepared for backup support.
All the ambulances of Rescue 1122 will remain present at the Civic Centre till the end of the situation. Furthermore, an emergency control room has been established at the Poly Clinic in Civic Centre. The KMC has also set up the rain emergency centres in all the districts whereas the central rain emergency centre has been established in the Civic Centre which will work round the clock.
Meanwhile the Advertisement (Local Taxes) Department of the KMC has removed more than 600 advertisement billboards in various areas on Thursday including Sea View Clifton, Saddar, Shahrah-e-Quaideen, Sharah-e-Faisal, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Nazimabad, Gulberg, Liaquatabad, Korangi, Karsaz and other areas. The Municipal Services Department, following the directives of KMC Administrator Rauf Akhter Farooqui, has removed silt and garbage with the help of heavy machinery and dumpers in Gujjar Nullah, PIDC Nullah, Hijrat Colony Nullah, ICI Bridge Nullah, Machar Colony Nullah and Nehr-e-Khayam Clifton. Dewatering pumps and suction machines were put up at all those points in the city where rainwater stayed in past including a portion of Sharah-e-Faisal, Falak Naz Apartment, FTC, Liaquatabad Underpass and Governor House to ensure swift drainage of rainwater.
Fire erupts in warehouse: A grade three fire erupted here at a ware house of a private company Thursday morning causing damage to stored goods mainly comprising edible items, juices, edible oil and so-forth.
District Central administration told this agency that the property, located on plot number L 25, block 21, FB Area, taken on rent by the Chase Company reportedly caught fire due to short circuit.
Exact nature and extent of damage cannot be determined on immediate basis as the affected area covers more than 6,000 square yards, said the senior official. Fire tenders of all the 26 fire stations in the area were engaged in extinguishing fire but due to intensity of the fire the concrete structures of the building were also severely affected. All water hydrants have been directed by the deputy commissioner of Karachi Central to provide uninterrupted water supply to the fire engines, said the official.