By Saima Baloch
KARACHI: Karachi has been battered by high-speed winds reaching 30-45 kilometers per hour, resulting in significant damage and at least two fatalities. The severe weather, attributed to a developing storm in the Arabian Sea, has led to the toppling of trees and signboards throughout the city. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), wind speeds surged to perilous levels, with gusts reaching up to 60 kilometers per hour. The intense weather claimed the life of Shamim Bibi, a 50-year-old woman, who was killed by a falling tree near Baitul Mukarram Mosque on University Road in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Her body has been transported to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for legal procedures.
Another fatality occurred in Korangi’s Sector 51-C, where Muhammad Sameer, a 25-year-old man, was electrocuted while working at home. The strong winds have also caused extensive damage, uprooting hundreds of trees across the city. The low-pressure system that intensified over the past day is now advancing towards the northeast Arabian Sea along the Sindh coast. It has the potential to develop into a Cyclonic Storm (CS) by later today. Currently located approximately 190 kilometers east-southeast of Karachi, the system is expected to bring widespread rain and thunderstorms across Sindh and Balochistan.
Meteorological reports suggest that the system’s development is bolstered by favorable environmental conditions, including sea surface temperatures of 28-29°C, moderate vertical wind shear, and strong upper-level outflow. These factors are likely to escalate the system into a cyclonic storm by this evening. The impact of the weather system is anticipated to be significant, with extensive rain and thunderstorms forecasted for Karachi, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, and other districts in Sindh until August 31.
Coastal regions of Balochistan, including Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Kech, and Gwadar, will experience similar conditions from August 30 to September 1. Heavy rainfall may result in waterlogging and inundation in low-lying areas along the Sindh-Makran coast. Sea conditions are expected to be rough, with squally winds reaching speeds of 50-60 km/h and gusts up to 70 km/h. Fishermen in Sindh are advised to stay ashore until August 31, while those in Balochistan should avoid venturing into the sea until September 1.
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