Prospect of cyclone looming large: Sindh and Balochistan coastal areas threatened

Deep depression, seen in the north of Arabian Sea, has converted into tropical cyclone 'Yemyn-03B', which is now at about 150 km of south of Karachi, with maximum wind speed of 40 to 50 knots, according to Met Office on Monday.
The Met official told Business Recorder that the cyclone would pass near Karachi coast by Tuesday afternoon. But he ruled out any threat to the coastal belt of the city, and added that it would gush at the speed of 60 to 70 knots. As a result, strong winds and heavy rainfall were expected.
He said that the cyclone was moving west-north-west direction at 60 to 70 knots.
Pertaining to Balochistan coastal areas, the official said that situation there could be slightly worse than Karachi as the cyclone's measurement is 20 to 25 feet, whereas its measurement at Karachi coastal areas would be 10 feet to 15 feet. He said that Pasni, Makran, and Gwadar would be the affected areas to be hit by the cyclone in its wake.
AFP adds: Officials in Balochistan said around 2,000 people had been evacuated to higher ground from areas along the Arabian Sea coast that were already inundated by the rain. Karachi is still reeling from a deadly thunderstorm on Saturday, with parts of the sprawling port city of 12 million people still without electricity or drinking water. The shortages have led to several riots.
Workers were clearing fallen trees and the wreckage of nearly 50 huge iron advertising billboards that collapsed during the thunderstorms, causing several of the casualties.
Relief camps have been set up in the badly affected Karachi slum area of Gadap Town where more than 1,000 shanty homes were destroyed, while two truck-loads of aid have been dispatched, city officials said.
Some Karachi residents said they were forced to sleep in the open despite promises from municipal authorities to shift them to schools and private buildings. "We are living in the open because we have lost our house and no one has provided us any shelter," said labourer Ghulam Rasool, 35.
Gadap Town Naib Nazim, Abdus Sattar Brohi, said people were still waiting for the authorities to help. "People are paying from their own pockets to provide food to their neighbours in distress," Brohi told. The storm has also destroyed hundreds of houses in parts of Sindh and Balochistan, officials said.
PPI adds: Sindh Chief Secretary Shakil Durrani chaired a high-level emergency meeting at his office, which discussed possibilities of cyclone and preventive measures in the province especially Karachi, Thatta and coastal areas of Badin district.
The chief-secretary called masses not to believe in rumours and only believe in Allah, the Almighty. He asked people to adopt preventive measures and be careful while using electric apparatus and avoid contacting electric wires and poles.
Shakil Durrani directed Relief Commissioner Sindh, Secretary Irrigation and Power and Secretary Local Government to take all necessary measures to shift people from vulnerable areas of Karachi, Thatta, Badin and others to safer places, besides ensuring healthcare and other basic facilities.
Met office has forecast cloudy weather, with chances of thunderstorm and rain showers, while the maximum temperature will be in the range of 30 degrees centigrade to 32 centigrade on Tuesday.
Maximum temperature on Monday was recorded 29 centigrade and minimum 34.2 centigrade. Humidity in the air was 69 percent. Rain fell at 12 mm till this report was filed.
Our correspondent adds from Hyderabad: As many as 14 Emergency Control Rooms have been established in southern districts of the province by the government of Sindh to facilitate the victims of impending heavy rains during current monsoon season.
According to a press release issued by Additional Relief Commissioner Hyderabad, these established emergency control rooms included City District Nazim Karachi Control Room with telephone Nos021-9232433, 9232434, DCO Office Karachi 021-9205639, 9203443, DCO Office Hyderabad with telephone Nos022-9200115, 9200116, DCO Office Tando Muhammad Khan telephone Nos 022-3340453, 3341009, DCO Office Tando Allahyar with telephone No 022-3892908, DCO Office Badin with telephone Nos0297-861996, 862027, DCO Office Thatta with contacted Nos 0298-920031, 920063, DCO Office Jamshoro with contact numbers 022-3871942, 3870135, DCO Office Sanghar with phone number 0235-541844, DCO Office Mirpurkhas with contact numbers 0233-9290066, 9290069, DCO Office Umerkot with phone numbers 0238-570700, 571576, DCO Office Tharparkar with telephone numbers, 0232-261667, 261444 and Relief Commissioner Karachi/Hyderabad emergency Control Rooms with phone numbers 021-9202630, 022-9200553 and Additional Relief Commissioner Hyderabad Control Room phone number 022-9200573