Cyclone Nilofar gaining strength, will hit land Friday

KARACHI: The coastal belt of Pakistan has been closed due to tropical cyclone Nilofar which has gained further strength as it continues to move inwards.

Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Siddiqui directed to impose section-144 along the coastal belt as a precautionary measure against the tropical cyclone.

Presently the cyclone is 1140 kilometers away from Karachi and 1060 kms from Gwadar coast.

The storm will reach here on Friday. It may not hit the shore hard but it is expected to trigger heavy rains in the coastal areas of the country.

The fishermen have been directed to return from high seas and keep their fishing activities suspended from Wednesday to Friday.

Police said orders had been received to close the beach for two days from tonight. The police have also ordered to close all restaurants located along the coastal belt.



Speaking to Geo News, Meteorological Department Director Dr Mohammad Hanif said the intensity of Tropical Cyclone Nilofar may increase in the next 24 hours.

“The tropical cyclone is 1,200 KM away from the coastal belt of Pakistan and is expected to intensify in the next 24 hours. This is currently a category 3 cyclone but may increase to category 4 by tomorrow,” Mr Hanif told Geo News.

Mr Hanif further said that currently the tropical cyclone was heading towards the coastal belt of Oman but its direction was expected to change towards the coastal belt of Pakistan tomorrow (Tuesday). “Heavy rain will take place in the coastal areas of Pakistan including Karachi during the next 2-3 days.”

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned local agencies to take precautionary measures ahead of the cyclone.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the open sea from Wednesday to Friday, and those already at sea have been told to come back to shore.

“We have instructed our provincial chapter to warn fishermen that they should refrain from fishing in the sea for few coming days,” NDMA spokesman Ahmed Kamal told foreign news agency AFP.