KARACHI: PMD has informed the Media here today that this year’s first Cyclone Tauktae would pass by sans making a landfall on the Pakistani coastal belt.
Though the Metropolis Karachi will not experience any rain, districts of Badin, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Tharparkar and Umerkot would receive moderate rains. Presently (Sunday 16th of May), Karachiites are suffering from scorching heat and the mercury is expected to shoot up further in next couple of days due to the cyclonic movement in the Arabian Sea.
CM Syed Murad Ali Shah had declared an emergency on 15th of May in all districts of the province that lie on the coastal belt. Earlier, Advisor on Law & Environment Murtaza Wahab had taken to Twitter to inform that CM Sindh was presiding over a meeting regarding the arrangements to deal with the cyclone expected to hit the province next week.
CM asked the Administrator Karachi to take precautionary measures and ensure that the choked drains are cleaned. DCs (particularly of Tharparkar) have been asked to establish control rooms in their offices in order to handle any unexpected situation. Concerned authorities have been instructed to remove the billboards that could fall on people and motorists. Fishermen have been barred from entering the deeps for fishing. The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued an alert for Cyclone Tauktae, predicting rainfall and gusty winds in part of Sindh next week (Monday 17th – Thursday 20th of May).
To deal with any emergency Sindh Govt has established a Central Control Cell in the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department’s Committee Room on the 2nd Floor of New Sindh Secretariat Building No. 1 here.
The cell will undertake the following tasks: Work round the clock and resolve issues related to rain emergency throughout the province; Coordinate with other cells established for the subject purpose by IG Sindh, DG Rangers, Health Department, Home Department, PDMA Sindh, as well as Divisional Headquarters, i.e. Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners at respective district levels; Provide guidance and assistance to general public on any query regarding rain emergency. The cell will be managed by Muhammad Hanif Channa, Secretary (GA), SGA&CD.
The following contact details were provided for the public to use in case of emergencies: Helpline number: 1070
Telephone number: 021-99222967
WhatsApp number: 0317-0266875
Fax number: 021-99222655
Email: rainemergency@gmail.com
The district administration Hyderabad has set up a control room at the camp office of Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro on Saturday 15th of May to deal with any emergency during cyclone. Local administration has been asked to remain alert to handle any emergency on Monday 17th of May when the tropical cyclone entailed torrential rains is expected to hit the province of Sindh. The DC Hyderabad had also provided a helpline number 0229200570 for the citizens to contact the administration in case of any need.
Met dept. informed that the depression over the southeast Arabian Sea has intensified into a cyclonic storm and lay centered at a distance of about 1,460km south-southeast of the Metropolis: “Maximum sustained winds around the system center are 70-90kmph, gusting to 100kmph. The system is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 12-18 hours and move in north-northwest direction and reach Indian Gujarat by the morning of 18th May”.
Keeping the current environmental conditions in view it seems that widespread rain-dust/thunderstorm with heavy to very heavy rain falls and gusty winds of 70-90 kmph will occur in Thatta, Badin, Thar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Sanghar districts from Monday 17th till Thursday 20th of May: “Rain-dust/thunderstorm with few heavy falls and gusty winds of 40-60kmph also likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Dadu from 18th tilll 20th of May…Sea conditions will be rough to very rough and fishermen are advised not to venture in the sea between 16th May till 20th May,” Met Dept advised.
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