Storm Wreaks Havoc in Karachi: Schools Closed Amid Cyclone Threat

Heavy rains and stormy winds hit Karachi, leading to school closures. A depression in the Arabian Sea could evolve into a cyclonic storm. Officials have warned fishermen and sailors to stay put and anticipate flooding. Nearly 28 people have died; 18,000 have been evacuated from Gujarat, India.

Heavy rains and stormy winds have forced authorities in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, to close schools on Friday. This decision comes in light of a deep depression in the Arabian Sea that meteorologists warn could develop into a cyclonic storm.

Parts of Karachi reported 147 mm (5.79 inches) of rain overnight. The city's mayor, Murtaza Wahab, urged residents in a post on X to avoid "unnecessary movement." India's weather office expects the depression located off the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Friday and move northwest over the Arabian Sea in the next two days.

Pakistani authorities have advised fishermen and sailors to avoid venturing out to sea and warned that the impending storm could lead to flooding in cities and flash floods in hilly areas. Since Sunday, more than 28 people have died, and approximately 18,000 have been evacuated from cities near the Gujarat coast, according to disaster management authorities. Additional rainfall is expected as the storm continues to build.

The Indian Express newspaper highlighted that the formation of a cyclonic storm over the Arabian Sea in August is a rare occurrence, with the last such storm recorded in 1964.

(With inputs from agencies.)