THATTA, Sept 23: People living along the 160 kilometre coast are being evacuated because of a cyclone brewing in the Arabian Sea may make landfall on the Thatta coast.

DCO Usman Panhwar told Dawn that the administration through mosque loudspeakers and revenue officials had requested the people to cooperate with the administration to avoid any eventuality. He said that makeshift arrangements had been made in Keti Bunder, Kharochhan, Shah Bunder and Jati talukas for the displaced people. He said that nearby fishing vessels had been escorted back to the shore and anchored.

Residents of Ishaque Dablo, Rehman Junejo, Urs Mallah, Khamiso Khaskheli, Fateh Dablo, Gulo sholani, Abdul Rehman villages of the Kharochhan taluka and 40 villages of the Shah Bunder taluka are shifting to safer places.

Local people said that about 40 vessels from Kharochhan, 33 (Shah Bunder), 15 (Keti Bunder) and 16 from Jati coast had gone for fishing in the deep sea. Tension prevailed in the fishermen community and people are praying for the safe return of relatives.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum chairman Mohammad Ali Shah said that the PFF had also despatched its volunteers to far-off coastline and set up camps.