ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced on Monday that Cyclone Shakhti has weakened in intensity but may still bring isolated rain to coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.
The storm originated as a deep depression over the Arabian Sea on Friday and quickly intensified into a severe cyclonic storm within 24 hours as it moved toward the central-north Arabian Sea.
In an update issued at 11 a.m. on social media platform X, the PMD reported, “The severe cyclonic storm Shakhti over the west-central and adjoining northwest Arabian Sea has weakened into a cyclonic storm during the last six hours.” The department added that the system was expected to drift east-southeastwards over the same region and further weaken into a depression within the next 24 hours.
Under its influence, isolated rain is likely in the coastal districts of Sindh and Balochistan. The PMD warned that sea conditions would remain rough, with squally winds gusting up to 90 kilometers per hour until Tuesday. Over the north-west and west-central Arabian Sea, conditions are expected to stay “very rough to high” before gradually subsiding.
On Sunday, security forces and local rescuers saved more than a dozen fishing boats stranded by high tides triggered by the cyclone. Balochistan’s Provincial Secretary for Fisheries Tariq Qamar Baloch said all field officers were on high alert, with the department closely coordinating with the Pakistan Navy, Levies Force, and local administration to monitor the situation.
