Chennai: A gold-coloured chariot-like structure reportedly from Myanmar, Malaysia or Thailand washed ashore at Sunnapalli coast in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. According to local fishermen, the chariot washed ashore due to the high tidal waves caused by Cyclone Asani.
The chariot, resembling part of a monastery, is suspected to have washed away from a faraway Southeast Asian country due to the impact of Cyclone Asani, local residents said.
Santabommali teshsildar J Chalamayya, however, denied this. The chariot might have been used for a movie shoot on an Indian coast and the high tides brought it to Srikakulam, he told The Times of India.
The police have registered a case and investigations are on.
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Meanwhile, after the news of the gold-painted chariot washing ashore spread across the region, people from neighbouring villages also rushed to Srikakulam to catch a glimpse of the chariot.
Incessant rains have been lashing parts of Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Asani neared the coastline. According to ANI, the India Meteorological Department has predicted that the cyclone is likely to move nearly northwestwards for the next few hours and reach westcentral Bay of Bengal close of AP coast.
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The sea also continues to remain turbulent in Kakinada where the expected landfall of Cyclone Asani is likely to take place.
The IMD also issued red warning to places including Guntur, Krishna, Visakhapatnam, West and East Godavari coast.
With inputs from agencies