Cyclone Shakti puts Sindh on high alert

Cyclone Shakti has intensified into a cyclonic storm and is now just 360 kilometers away from Karachi, with meteorologists warning of heavy rain, strong winds, and rough sea conditions.

According to the Met Office, winds may reach up to 125 km/h, and heavy rain is expected in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, and other areas. Authorities have immediately banned all fishing activities and warned that the sea will remain extremely hazardous from October 3 to 6. Emergency agencies have been placed on high alert to deal with any situation.

Meteorologists said the deep depression in the northeast Arabian Sea quickly transformed into Cyclone Shakti. A westerly wave over northern areas is also expected to further intensify the system. As a result, scattered rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds are likely to lash multiple parts of Sindh, including Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Sujawal, Jamshoro, Khairpur, Sanghar, Sukkur, Naushero Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Dadu.

Officials have warned people living in lower Sindh about strong windstorms and lightning that could damage weak structures such as kacha houses, rooftops, solar panels, billboards, and electric poles. Citizens are urged to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and take precautionary steps for their safety.

Satellite images show a clear rotating vortex of the storm over the northeast Arabian Sea, with dense clouds and strong convection spreading across the northern and central Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Kutch, and nearby coastal regions. Currently, Cyclone Shakti is about 360 kilometers away from Karachi, but experts say it may intensify further over the next few days. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and have advised residents to prepare for rough weather conditions.