KARACHI: Commissioner of Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui has said that 80 relevant departments and institutions, including the Karachi Port Trust and Coastguards, have been put on high alert through Rescue-1299 (emergency contact number) in view of possible risks posed by tropical cyclone Nilofar.

Briefing the media on the cyclone at his office on Tuesday, the commissioner said Section 144 of the criminal procedure code had been imposed in the coastal areas and picnics banned at the beaches.

Administrator of the Karachi Municipal Corporation Rauf Akhtar Farooqui, KMC MD Qutub Shaikh, the director of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the meteorological department’s head and others were present.

The commissioner said government buildings and schools had been evacuated for shifting residents of coastal areas to safe places.

He said especial arrangements were being made in the coastal areas of Ibrahim Haideri, Malir and Korangi.

Mr Siddiqui further said that cleaning of storm drains and removal of dangerous billboards from city roads had been started.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014