Cyclone Gulab: Karachi on high alert as storm nears

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning to Karachi residents as a cyclone named Gulab nears the Sindh-Makran coast.

People are advised to keep at a distance from trees, billboards and polls, Director Met Office Sardar Sarfaraz told ARY News.

Earlier, as per the official notification, the coastal belts had also been warned as the sea conditions would remain very rough with high surge at times till October 3.

Potential Low-Pressure Area Development in the Northeast Arabian Sea
Torrential Rain along Sindh-Makran Coast
For Updates :https://t.co/1LF1dXNu7j#GulabCyclone #CycloneUpdate#Gulab #SWM2021 pic.twitter.com/OJOevrMIj6

— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) September 28, 2021

The department also suggested that there will be urban flooding in Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Hyderabad, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Shaeed Benazirabad, Lasbela, Sonmiani, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Turbat and Jiwani.

The notification said: “The system is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and move northwestwards.”

However, the Met Office said that the PMD Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, Karachi is closely monitoring the system.

Currently, Hashtag #CycloneGulab is one of the top trends on Twitter Pakistan as heavy rainfall has caused electricity poles to fall in different parts of the city.

Boss Mehran 😢#Karachi #CycloneGulab #CycloneShaheen pic.twitter.com/jgovIB1Jic

— Lucifer (@Man_with_Horns) September 30, 2021

JUST IN: Gusty winds, taller waves feared in Pakistan's Karachi, as storm nears. People are advised to keep at a distance from trees, billboards and polls, authorities issue alert for people near coastal belts to evacuate. Para-military force on scene #CycloneGulab pic.twitter.com/nKYxBO4yOF

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) September 30, 2021