Following a tropical cyclone alert, local authorities have imposed a ban on fishermen from Karachi and the Thatta coastal belt, prohibiting them from venturing into the Arabian Sea.
A deep depression currently located over the Rann of Kutch, India, approximately 250 km east-southeast of Karachi, is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next 12 hours. In response, the local administration has advised fishermen to refrain from diving or hunting in the sea. Various departments, including revenue and health, have been instructed to remain on high alert for the potential cyclone in Thatta.
Pakistan Fisher Forum central leader Syed Gulab Shah reported that many fishing boats have already returned to shore. The weather office has forecast cloudy conditions for Keti Bandar and its surrounding areas.
In light of the imminent typhoon threat, fishermen along the Korangi Ibrahim Hydari coastline have been advised to stay ashore. Thousands of boats have already anchored at Siddique Jetty, with many fishermen returning as early as August 25.
Faced with days of inactivity, the fishermen are expressing frustration over the lack of government support, citing the financial burden of being unable to work. While some have started repairing their boats during this downtime, the threat of high waves and the approaching storm continues to cause concern among the coastal community.
The weather office predicts widespread rain and wind-thunderstorms, with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall expected in Karachi Division, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sajawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, and Shaheed Benazirabad districts through August 31, with intermittent breaks. Similar conditions are expected in Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Kech, and Gwadar districts from August 30 to September 1.
Torrential rains may lead to flooding in low-lying areas of Sindh, Balochistan, and southern Punjab, with potential flash flooding in the hill torrents of D.G. Khan and local streams in Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Kalat, Khuzdar, Jaffarabad, Sibi, Naseerabad, Barkhan, Loralai, Awaran, Panjgur, Washuk, Mastung, and Lasbella. Heavy rains may also trigger landslides in Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
