KARACHI/ISLAMABAD, Aug 7: Meteorological office has warned of the possibility of a storm, accompanied by rain, striking Sindh and Balochistan over the next two to three days under the influence of a strong monsoon system.

A strong weather system developed in the Bay of Bengal two days ago, tracked towards the west of Orissa in India, and is now moving in the westerly direction towards Indian Gujarat’s coast.

The system is likely to cross the northeast Arabian Sea on Aug 9, may intensify further and move towards Balochistan’s coast on Aug 10 and 11.

Under its influence, coastal areas of Sindh, including Karachi, are likely to be hit by a storm and rains on Aug 9 and 10. Later, the coastal areas of Balochistan, including Ormara, Lasbella, Pasni, Gwadar and Jiwani, may experience heavy rains and flash floods.

Sea conditions will be very rough along the coast of Sindh, and fishermen have been advised not to venture in the open sea on Aug 9 and 10.—Agencies

Our Islamabad Correspondent adds: The National Disaster Mangement Authority (NDMA) has asked the governments of Sindh and Balochistan and district governments to brace up for possible storm and heavy rains and take necessary precautionary steps.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, NDMA chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Gen Farooq Ahmed Khan said that widespread rains in Sindh and Balochistan, especially in coastal areas, were expected on Aug 10 and 11. He said that hilly areas of Balochistan might experience heavy rains and flash floods.

He said a strong monsoon weather system moving in the westerly direction could cause the kind of weather conditions which had prevailed during the recent cyclone and flash floods in Balochistan and Sindh.

Gen Farooq said that an early recovery plan for rain- and flood-affected areas of Balochistan and Sindh would be finalised this week to enable the affected people to resume their normal life and business activities. He urged non-govermental organisations and donor agencies to coordinate their rehabilitation activities with the NDMA. He said the NDMA would discourage solo flights.

He said the prime minister had directed the Ministry of Industries and Special Initiatives to set up small water purification plants in affected areas on a top priority.

He said a high-level meeting held on Tuesday had decided to initiate projects for flood protection in the border areas of Sindh and Balochistan at a cost of Rs1.8 billion.

Gen Farooq said that the Sindh government had so far disbursed less than 16 per cent (Rs23.73 million) of the Rs150 million provided to it for the flood-affected households as ‘immediate relief’ (Rs15000 per household).

He said that out of the Rs100 million given to the Shahdadkot district government for 24,164 households, only Rs1.43 million had been disbursed among 95 households.

He said the Dadu district government had disbursed Rs22.30 million among 1,487 households out of Rs50 million given to it for 9085 households.