KARACHI - Cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea on Sunday changed its direction averting a possible threat to Pakistan’s coastline just when the cyclone was 1,300 km away from sprawling city of Karachi.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the system with winds of 100 to 120 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph, was moving north-westward at a speed of 18 km and was at a distance of about 1,300 km south-southeast of Karachi.
The cyclonic activity has caused dust/thunderstorms with moderate to heavy rainfalls along with gusty winds of 60 to 80 kmph in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Sanghar districts of Sindh. The visibility in the port city of Karachi has reduced to two km near the Jinnah International Airport to dusty winds which are moving with the speed of 36 km per hour from the northeast.
The Sindh government has declared an emergency in all the districts located along the coastal belt and ordered concerned authorities to take precautionary measures to meet any untoward situation in view of the cyclone impacting any area in the province. The decision was taken in an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah in Karachi. The meeting also advised fishermen not to go into the deep sea for fishing till 20 of this month. Karachi weather department Director Sardar Sarfraz advised people not to travel in the afternoon especially from 11am to 4pm as they may catch sunstroke. Moreover, the Government of Sindh has established a Central Control Cell at the New Sindh Secretariat Building for Tropical Cyclone Tauktae. The helpline number of the cell is 1070 while contact can also be made on phone number 021-99222967; Fax No. 021-99222655; Email address: rainemergency@gmail.com, and also on WhatsApp No 0317-0266875. The cyclone is likely to make landfall in the Indian state of Gujarat by Tuesday.
‘Karachi administration well prepared to handle any emergency situation’
City administration is fully prepared to combat emergency situation expected during cyclone in the city.
Commissioner of Karachi, Naveed Ahmed Shaikh, following his visit to different parts of the mega polis on Sunday, also issued an alert to the deputy commissioners, concerned authorities of different cantonment boards, KMC, DMCs Water and Sewerage Board and other relevant departments to be fully prepared for any possible calamity.
The Karachi commissioner urged these officials to ensure effective implementation of the contingency plans prepared under the existent situation.
They were also advised to help maintain efficient coordination among the civic agencies, as well as to provide relief to the people during expected cyclone and rains.
Earlier, with the motive to review level of preparedness and arrangements made by concerned departments to handle any difficult situation, he took round of different areas of the city.
He, on the occasion, was accompanied by concerned officials, representing districts’ administration and civic agencies.
Commissioner Naveed Ahmed Shaikh was briefed by representatives of cantonment boards and other civic agencies about the contingency plans developed to combat any emergency situation.
Meanwhile, a control room has also been setup at Commissioner Karachi office, directly linked to Rescue Centre’s UAN 1299 for coordination and relief work, if needed.