Evacuations and Preparations in India and Pakistan in Anticipation of a Tropical Storm

Coastal cities and towns in India and Pakistan prepared for a tropical storm on Friday, as winds and heavy rains forced authorities to close schools and evacuate thousands of people. The Indian Meteorological Department said that a low-pressure area is expected to turn into a tropical storm today, adding that it will move northwestward over the Arabian Sea over the next two days. Officials announced the closure of schools in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, and parts of the Kutch region in India’s Gujarat state, where heavy rains have fallen. Indian Meteorological Department data shows that tropical storms are rare in August and that this storm is the first in decades. Officials said that three people were killed in Gujarat overnight due to rain-related incidents, bringing the death toll to 31 this week. Authorities evacuated more than 8,700 people from 10 districts in the state over the past 24 hours. In neighboring Pakistan, authorities warned of possible flash floods and flooding due to heavy rains, urging residents to stay indoors. Meanwhile, both countries warned fishermen against going out to sea.