As a deep depression over the northeast Arabian Sea intensifies into Cyclone Asna, residents of Sindh are preparing for heavy rainfall and potential flooding. The storm system, located approximately 170 kilometers from Karachi, has developed into a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour, according to live radar updates from Zoom Earth.
In an alert issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), it was noted that the depression, now a strong low-pressure area, had shifted westward over the last six hours and was currently situated near the Rann of Kutch in India. The storm is expected to continue moving west or northwest, bringing widespread rain, thunderstorms, and isolated heavy downpours to various districts across Sindh, including Karachi, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, and others, until Saturday.
Satellite images captured this morning show the deep depression over the Arabian Sea, highlighting the unusual occurrence of a cyclone forming during the monsoon season. Chief Meteorologist Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz emphasized the rarity of such an event, noting that the last time a cyclone formed in this region during August was in 1976. If the storm continues to strengthen, it will be officially named ‘Asna,’ as suggested by Pakistan.
The Indian Meteorological Department also confirmed that the storm is likely to move northwest over the Arabian Sea in the coming days. This type of cyclonic activity, forming over land and then moving towards the sea, is considered highly unusual.
Under the influence of Cyclone Asna, the PMD has forecast heavy rainfall across Sindh, including the Balochistan coastline. The storm is expected to bring widespread rain and thunderstorms, with particularly heavy falls in districts such as Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Kech, and Gwadar from August 30 to September 1.
In Karachi and Hyderabad, schools have been closed in anticipation of the storm, and authorities are urging residents to stay indoors to avoid the risk of urban flooding. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has advised citizens to limit unnecessary movement, as parts of the city received 147 millimeters of rain overnight. In Gujarat, India, the death toll from rain-related incidents has risen to 31, with thousands of people evacuated from vulnerable areas.
Fishermen in both Sindh and Balochistan have been strongly advised against venturing out to sea due to rough conditions, with squally winds expected to reach up to 70 kilometers per hour. A ban on swimming, diving, and wading in coastal areas has also been imposed in Karachi from August 29 to August 31 to ensure public safety.
As Cyclone Asna continues to develop, authorities are closely monitoring the situation and implementing precautionary measures to minimize the storm’s impact on affected regions.
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