Pakistan is grappling with the aftermath of heavy rains brought by Cyclone Asna, which has tragically claimed the lives of at least 24 people. While the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) assures that the cyclone won’t directly threaten coastal areas, it is anticipated to unleash strong winds and moderate to heavy rainfall across Sindh and Balochistan.
The devastating impact of the rains was felt most acutely in Upper Dir, where a family of 13 tragically perished when their home collapsed due to a landslide triggered by incessant rainfall. The incident occurred on Friday morning in the Ramyal village as the family was inside their dwelling. Simultaneously, in Sindh, the heavy downpour resulted in at least nine fatalities across Jamshoro, Dadu, and Mirpurkhas districts.
The deluge has wreaked havoc across Sindh, causing sewer ruptures, dyke breaches, and the destruction of countless mud houses. More than 30 individuals have been injured amidst the heavy rains.
The PMD’s advisory issued at 10:30 pm (local time) on Friday revealed that the cyclone had shifted westward over the preceding six hours and was situated approximately 120km south of Karachi, 180km southwest of Thatta, 250km southeast of Ormara, and 440km east-southeast of Gwadar. The agency projected that the system will likely move west-northwest followed by a trajectory towards west-southwest.
Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, PMD Director General Mahr Sahibzad Khan stated that this was the first instance in 60 years, since 1964, of such a cyclone forming in the region. During a press briefing, Khan indicated that the cyclone will cause widespread rains and thunderstorms in Karachi, Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, and Shaheed Benazirabad districts on Saturday.
“Saturday will be crucial to observe its [cyclone’s] impact. It’s directed towards Oman, but we expect the cyclone to dissipate at sea,” Chief Meteorologist Dr Sardar Sarfaraz noted. He added that Balochistan’s coastal regions are likely to experience heavier rainfall compared to Sindh.
