The Sindh government on Tuesday issued a weather warning, anticipating heavy rains later this week, in which it directed all district disaster management authorities, commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure that all precautionary measures are taken to avoid any untoward situation as well adopt an effective response mechanism, including issuing an early warning for flash floods.

The direction, through a "most urgent" letter, was issued in connection with a weather warning issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The PMD had intimated, "A strong monsoon weather system from India is heading towards Sindh and is likely to enter south-east Sindh on Tuesday evening."

"Under its influence rain/thundershowers with a number of moderate to heavy and few very heavy falls with strong gusty winds may occur Sindh particularly in lower divisions in Sindh, including Karachi from August 30 to September 1. Heavy falls may generate urban flooding in vulnerable areas of lower Sindh," reads the warning.

PTA requested to issue SMS alerts

In response to the PMD's warning of expected flash flooding, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also sent a letter to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) with a request to issue SMS alerts for the areas likely to be affected. The SMS alert will ask citizens in the vulnerable districts of the province to take precautionary measures.

KMC on alert

Earlier on Monday, Mayor Wasim Akhtar had directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s staff to remain alert and ready with all required equipment and machinery to tackle heavy rains.

He had announced that in case of any emergency the people could call the KMC’s rain emergency centres on these numbers: 0332-2685090, 0335-7553976 and 1339.