Relief in Pakistan’s coastal region as Cyclone Shaheen drifts toward Gulf of Oman

Motorists make their way amid heavy rains along a road in Hyderabad on September 27, 2021. (AFP)

• The Met Office had earlier said the cyclone could cause urban flooding in Pakistan southern cities, damage old structures
• Fishermen in Gwadar say rough waves and strong winds have damaged their boats

KARACHI: Cyclone Shaheen is heading toward the Gulf of Oman after drifting away from the Pakistani coastal region without creating an emergency situation, said a senior weather official on Saturday.
The cyclone developed earlier this week after a low-pressure zone emerged over the Arabian Sea and gradually gained intensity.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the storm was about 125 kilometers south of Pakistan’s Gwadar port city, 250 kilometers southwest of Ormara and 470 kilometers west of Karachi.
“A major part of the cyclonic storm will enter the Gulf of Oman by Saturday evening and there are chances of moderate to heavy rains along the Balochistan coastline today and tomorrow,” Sardar Sarfraz, PMD director, told Arab News, adding that light rain was also expected in different areas of Karachi.
The PMD issued an alert in the morning, saying the cyclone was causing gusty winds of about 120 kilometers per hour and creating rough sea conditions around the system center.
“The system is likely to keep moving west-northwestwards till today evening and then recurve southwestward toward Oman northern coast,” the document said, adding under that the influence of the weather system “rain-wind-thunderstorms with few heavy falls are likely in Gwadar, Lasbella, Awaran, Kech and Panjgur districts of Balochistan till tomorrow, 3 Oct (Sunday).”
Speaking to Arab News, Dad Kareem, a local fisherman in Gwadar, said rough waves and strong winds had damaged several fishing boats along the coast last night, though he added there was no loss of human life.
“The overall situation is under control but rough waves and strong winds have damaged many of our boats,” Karim said.
Earlier this week, the Met Office had warned of thunderstorms in Karachi and other coastal areas of Sindh province.
It also issued a cyclone alert, saying torrential rains could trigger urban flooding in Karachi and other cities in the south of Sindh while windstorms could damage vulnerable structures in the city.
The predictions forced the authorities in Karachi to announce a public holiday on Friday.