KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The Meteorological Office has issued a warning regarding a deep depression over Sindh’s coastal belt, which is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the deep depression is currently located over the coastal district of Kachchh in India and could reach Sindh’s coastal areas tonight or tomorrow.
The depression is moving westward from India at a speed of 12 km per hour and is centered approximately 270 km east-southeast of Karachi.
PMD cautioned that this deep depression is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours.
The weather system is expected to bring strong winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts in Sindh, including Karachi, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Umarkot, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, and Shaheed Benazirabad, until August 30.
The Met Office has also advised fishermen in Sindh to avoid venturing into the sea until August 31.
Meanwhile, the recent monsoon rains and floods across Pakistan have led to the tragic loss of 245 lives between July 1st and August 27th, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Punjab has been the most severely affected, with 92 fatalities, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 74 people have lost their lives. In Sindh, 47 deaths have been recorded, while Balochistan has reported 22 fatalities. Additionally, the severe weather conditions have claimed the lives of 6 people in Kashmir and 4 in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Among those who perished, 121 were children and 48 were women. The disasters have also left 446 individuals injured, including 158 men, 107 women, and 181 children.
The NDMA’s report also underscores the extensive damage to property and infrastructure. A total of 1,002 houses were completely destroyed, and 3,475 houses suffered partial damage. The floods have also caused significant harm to public infrastructure, with 8 schools and 35 bridges damaged.
Additionally, 609 cattle were killed, further exacerbating the economic challenges faced by the affected communities.
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