Over the weekend, Cyclone Asna moved away from Pakistan’s coastline, but heavy rains were still expected to hit the region. The cyclone, which developed from a deep depression, was located about 230 kilometres southwest of Karachi and was moving west-southwestward. As a result, light to moderate rain and gusty winds were likely in Karachi and other districts in Sindh, while Balochistan was expected to experience heavy rain and squally winds. Fishermen were advised to avoid venturing into the sea, and schools in Karachi and Hyderabad were closed due to the forecasted heavy showers and urban flooding warnings.

Tragically, the cyclone caused widespread devastation, resulting in the loss of lives and injuries. In Sindh, at least nine people lost their lives, and more than 30 people were injured in rain-related incidents. Similarly, in Balochistan, two individuals were missing, and 13 people were swept away in flash floods. In the north of the country, 13 members of a family died due to a landslide caused by heavy rainfall.

In neighbouring India, the impact of the cyclone was also severe, with at least 31 people dying from rain-related incidents. More than 8,700 people were evacuated from ten districts in the state of Gujarat.

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