Mercury rises in Karachi after cyclone moves away

Heatwave has returned to Karachi after Cyclone Biparjoy, which had instilled fear in the hearts of residents of coastal areas of Pakistan and which according to initial prediction was going to have a major impact on these areas, has moved north-eastwards during the last 24 hours and is now passing over Kuch area of India, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

Now the storm has moved further away from Karachi, while it lies towards the east of Thatta city of Sindh, at a distance of 265 kilometers, towards east of Badin at a distance of 170 kilometers and 300 kilometers from Keti Bandar. Winds are blowing at the speed of 60 to 70 kilometers per hour at the center of the cyclone.

However, the situation is far from normal in the north-east of the Arabian Sea where waves are as high as 8 to 10-feet.

Weathermen say there are chances that the cyclone may further weaken at night and turn into a depression. They have also predicted heavy rain in Badin during the next 24 hours with winds blowing at the speed of 60-80 kilometers per hour, rain in Thatta, Sujawal and Karachi with wind speed reaching 30 to 40 kilometers per hour.   

Similarly, rain has also been forecast for Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Sanghar districts during the next 24 hours.

As soon as the cyclone threat receded, the Karachiites are now embracing for the heatwave as temperature roared back upwards.

Saturday morning saw intense heat and humid weather with temperature touching 32 degree celsius and humidity 68 percent. The mercury is expected to rise further as the day progresses.

On Friday last, 24News had reported that Cyclone Biparjoy slammed into the Indian coastal area of Jakhau and adjoining Pakistan-India border with powerful winds, sowing fear and prompting evacuations, but began weakening into a cyclonic storm (CS) as it moved north.

Indian forecasters had warned yesterday that Biparjoy, whose name means "disaster" in Bengali, was likely to devastate homes and tear down power lines as it barreled through the western state of Gujarat.

The cyclone came ashore as a Category 1 storm and Pakistan’s coastal areas, including Karachi, remained largely spared.

However, according to the Pakistan Metrological Department update, the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) Biparjoy over north-east Arabian Sea had crossed the Indian Gujarat coast (Jakhau port) and adjoining Pakistan-India border at a distance of 135km from Keti Bandar, 160km from Thatta and 220km from Karachi.

The associated maximum sustained surface winds were 100-120 km/hour, gusting 130 km/hour with sea conditions being rough/very rough in north-east Arabian Sea with wave height 10-15 feet.

Reporter: Adia Naz