India And Pakistan Prepare For Rare August Cyclone, Forcing Thousands To Flee

Coastal towns and cities in India and Pakistan found themselves on high alert as an unusual August cyclone approached on Friday, bringing with it powerful winds and torrential rains. 

In response to the severe weather conditions, officials made the difficult decision to shut down schools and initiate the evacuation of numerous residents to safer locations, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the situation as they worked to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected communities.

Deep depression had formed over land

India’s weather office reported a deep depression forming over land, likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by Friday evening. Schools in Pakistan’s Karachi and parts of Gujarat’s Kutch district were closed due to heavy rain.

A cyclonic storm in August is unusual, with this being the first in decades, according to data from India’s weather bureau.

Ashok Kumar Das, head of the Indian Meteorological Department in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, said “Cyclone formation generally takes place over sea and then it moves over to land. This type of system is unusual because it formed over land and is now moving towards the sea,”

“Wind speeds have fallen to 40-50 kmph,” 

Three additional people died in Gujarat overnight from rain-related accidents, bringing the total to 31 this week, while authorities evacuated nearly 8,700 people from the state’s 10 districts in the last 24 hours, officials said.

District collector of the Kutch district, Amit Arora, said “There is severe water logging in several places in Kutch district due to heavy rains over the last couple of days. We evacuated people from coastal areas and shifted them to schools and other facilities,”

The cyclonic storm’s impact in Gujarat is expected to decrease as it transitions from land to sea. Wind speeds have dropped to 40-50 kmph. 

In Pakistan, authorities warn of urban flooding and flash floods due to heavy rain, urging citizens to stay indoors.

Fishermen in both countries are advised against venturing into the sea, while Karachi received 147 mm of rain overnight, prompting the city’s mayor, Murtaza Wahab, to urge residents to avoid unnecessary movement.

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