Schools in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, were shut down on Friday as heavy rains and stormy winds struck the area, driven by a rare cyclonic storm building up in the Arabian Sea. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that parts of Karachi received 147 mm (5.79 inches) of rainfall overnight, leading to significant disruptions across the city. In response, Karachi’s mayor, Murtaza Wahab, urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, emphasizing the importance of staying safe during the ongoing weather event.
The storm is the result of a deep depression currently off the Rann of Kutch in India’s Gujarat region, which meteorologists expect to intensify into a cyclonic storm by the end of the day. According to the Indian weather office, the storm is predicted to continue moving north-westward across the Arabian Sea over the next two days.
As a precaution, Pakistani authorities issued warnings to fishermen and sailors to stay away from the sea. They also alerted the public to the high risk of urban flooding in Karachi and flash floods in the hilly regions in the coming days. Disaster management officials have expressed concern that the storm could cause significant damage, particularly given Karachi’s vulnerability to flooding during heavy rains.
The storm’s unusual timing is also noteworthy. The formation of a cyclonic storm over the Arabian Sea in August is rare; the last such occurrence took place in 1964, according to reports. In India’s Gujarat state, over 28 people have already lost their lives due to severe rain and flooding, with around 18,000 residents evacuated from coastal cities since Sunday. More rainfall is expected in the region as the storm continues to build.
The authorities remain on high alert, urging residents of affected areas to take precautions and prepare for the possibility of further flooding.