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Karachi:
A rare August cyclone moved westwards from the Sindh coast on Saturday, bringing intermittent rains to the provincial capital.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Cyclone Asna has moved away from the Pakistani coastline (about 370 km from Karachi), but residents of coastal belts of Balochistan are still preparing for the rains to be brought by the weather system.
The Met Office added: “The system is likely to move further to the west-southwest.”
According to reports, rain/thundershowers with a few heavy showers and gusty winds of 60-70 km/hr are likely to occur over Lasbela, Awaran, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Jiwani, Turbat, Panjgul and its adjoining areas till Sunday evening.
The Prime Minister’s Office said heavy rains may cause waterlogging in low-lying areas along the Makran coast and sea conditions are likely to remain rough/very rough till Sunday.
It advised fishermen in Balochistan not to venture out to sea till Sunday evening, while those in Sindh can resume activities from tomorrow.
Rainfall data till 3 pm showed that Quaidabad in Karachi received 39 mm, Surghani 24 mm, Korangi 18.4 mm, North Nazimabad 17 mm, North Karachi 16.5 mm, University Road and Jinnah Terminal 16 mm each, PAF Faisal Base 15 mm, PAF Masroor Base 13 mm, Old District Airport 12.4 mm, Ki Amari and Gulshan-i-Maymar 11.8 mm each, Gulshan-i-Hadeed 5 mm, Gadap 4.2 mm, Saddar 1 mm.
A Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Karachi was unable to land at Karachi airport several times during the stormy late night and early morning hours due to adverse weather conditions and had to be diverted to Muscat.
The foreign airline flight was diverted to Muscat on Saturday morning after several failed attempts to land in Karachi due to bad weather.
Qatar Airways flight QR-610 carrying 250 passengers was forced to land in Muscat after multiple failed attempts to land at Karachi airport.
The flight returned from Muscat later that afternoon after the weather improved in Karachi.
Qatar Airways flight QR-610 usually arrives in Karachi from Doha at 7:00 am every day.
Meanwhile, another Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Angeles, Philippines, made an emergency landing at Karachi airport due to engine failure.
According to sources, flight QR926 from Doha to Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing at Karachi airport on Saturday morning as one of its engines stalled while flying over Pakistani airspace.
The incident occurred at an altitude of 39,000 feet when the Dreamliner experienced a major technical malfunction.
The pilot sent out a distress signal and requested to land immediately at Karachi Airport. After obtaining permission, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed safely at the airport.
The 187 passengers on board were escorted to the Karachi airport lounge while the aircraft was inspected.
Later that afternoon, a replacement plane arrived at Karachi airport to take the passengers to their destination in the Philippines.
Qatar Airways also sent engineers on a replacement flight to repair the faulty aircraft.
Passengers waiting in the lounge at Karachi airport were then flown to Angeles City on an alternative flight.
Meteorological department officials described the formation of cyclones during the monsoon season as a “rare phenomenon”.
Chief meteorologist Dr Sardar Sarfaraz had earlier said: “It will be a rare event as cyclones rarely occur during the monsoon season.”
He said it would be the first cyclone in the Arabian Sea in August since 1976 and would be named “Asna” suggested by Pakistan. He added that regional cyclones were named based on a list prepared by a panel of experts from 13 countries, including Pakistan.
Schools in Karachi and Hyderabad were closed on Friday as heavy rains were forecast and flood warnings were issued in the cities.
From August 29 to August 31 (Saturday), the Karachi division banned “fishermen from entering the sea, as well as swimming, bathing, diving and wading in the sea/beach and coastal areas”.
Heavy monsoon rains caused widespread destruction, killing about two dozen people across the country on Friday.
In Sindh province, at least nine people were killed in accidents caused by heavy rains in Jamshoro, Dadu and Mir Bhas districts on Friday. Floodwaters destroyed drains, breached embankments and swept away numerous mud houses, injuring more than 30 people.
In Balochistan, floods in Lolalai, Chirasaifoula, Duki, Harnai and Jalmagsi districts left 13 people swept away, including two missing.
In the north, incessant rains triggered a landslide in Upper Dir district, causing the roof of a family to collapse, killing 13 people.
Meanwhile, floodwaters in the Ghaji river in Sindh province have submerged roads and paths in more than 200 villages in the Kutchho belt, including Vashipandi and Gorakh hill stations, officials said on Saturday.
The floods also inundated the villages of Jam Babbar, Sher Muhammad Talpur, Muhammad Bakhsh Lund and Tamo Chandio, causing 30 mud houses to collapse.
The situation was aggravated by floods all over the banks of the Naigaji River, cutting off all ground links between Vashipandi, Gorakh hill station and the rest of the Kutchho district and Dadujoshi.
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