Sindh Braces for Cyclone Asna: PMD Issues Urgent Warning

Residents of Sindh, including Karachi, brace for heavy rain as Cyclone Asna approaches. The storm, now 120 kilometers southeast of Karachi, is expected to bring severe weather conditions. Fishermen are advised against sea ventures until August 31 in Sindh and September 1 in Balochistan.

Residents of Pakistan's Sindh province, including Karachi, are on high alert as Cyclone Asna approaches. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning, stating that a deep depression, located approximately 120 kilometers southeast of Karachi, has strengthened into Cyclone Asna. The News International reported that the storm is moving towards the Arabian Sea along the province's coast.

According to an advisory from the PMD, the Cyclonic Storm Asna over the northeast Arabian Sea off the Sindh coast has shifted westward during the past six hours. It currently lies about 120 km south of Karachi and 180 km southwest of Thatta. "The system is likely to keep moving initially west-northwestwards and then west-southwestwards," the advisory stated. The PMD further forecast rain-thundershowers with heavy falls, accompanied by squally winds in Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Matiari, Jamshoro, and Dadu districts until August 31.

The PMD also predicted similar weather conditions for Hub, Lasbela, Awaran, Kech, and Gwadar in Balochistan until September 1. The Met Office warned that sea conditions would remain "rough to very rough" with squally winds reaching speeds of 60-70 km/hr and gusts up to 80 km/hr. Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea until August 31 in Sindh and until September 1 in Balochistan.

Earlier, the India Meteorological Department also issued a warning on Saturday, stating that Cyclone Asna, a deep depression over the Arabian Sea, is causing heavy rains in Gujarat. It is likely to move West-Northwest over the Northeast Arabian Sea and away from the Indian Coast during the next 24 hours.

(With inputs from agencies.)