October 10, 2001	Wednesday	Rajab 22, 1422

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KARACHI, Oct 9: A tropical depression in the Arabian Sea has turned into a tropical cyclone, which is moving in the North-westerly direction with a speed of seven knots.

According to an alert message, issued by the Met department here at 11pm on Tuesday, presently none of the areas of Pakistan are under threat.

The centre of the system was 18.6 degrees North and 68.5 degrees East, 710km southeast from Karachi and 470km south from Keti Bander.

Maximum sustained winds near the centre of the system were 40 knots, gusting 50 knots.

Ships faring in the east-central Arabian sea have been advised to take proper precautions. Similarly, fishermen have been warned not to venture into the open sea beyond 50km off the coast. They have also been advised to take radio sets with them for listening to latest weather bulletins.

Presently, none of the areas of the country is under threat, but the purpose of the alert message was said to keep the authorities and people concerned informed.

Meanwhile, the Met department forecast hot and dry weather for Sindh and Mekran and Sibi divisions of Balochistan during the next 24 hours.

The worst-hit city by the hot and dry weather was Karachi, where the mercury shot up to 42.6 degrees Celsius, with only 21 per cent humidity in the air. The minimum temperature was 23.5 degrees Celsius.

According to the Met office, it was the second hottest day of October in the recorded history of Pakistan.

The highest temperature recorded by the Met department on Oct 1, 1951, was 43.3 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature in Karachi is expected to range between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

In the interior of Sindh, the maximum temperature, 42 degrees Celsius, was recorded in Chhore.—APP