Warnings issued: The boats sail back

KARACHI: Boats that had travelled into deep sea a few days back are returning to the jetties of Karachi, Thatta, Badin and Sujawal.

Around 20,000 small and big vessels are operating from different coastal jetties in Sindh. The depression in the sea is visible in the tides and the boats will probably return by Tuesday evening because of the rough weather, Noor Mohammed Thahimor of Jati said.

Thahimor lives in the coastal village Ishaq Thahimor, which experienced a devastating cyclone in 1999.  Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) chairperson Mohammad Ali Shah said they had set up an emergency cell at Sachal Hall in Ibrahim Hyderi to issue warning calls to boat owners and fishermen in the open sea.

He said they had sent the message up to the boats in Ormara, Balochistan and Thatta. PFF volunteers have placed red flags along the coastal belt to warn the fisher folk about the rough weather. They said they were working with the government to prevent any losses.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2014.