Cyclone Asani: Kolkata To Witness Heavy Rain, Thunderstorm From May 10. Odisha Prepares For 'Any Eventuality'

Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are likely to be witnessed over the districts of Gangetic West Bengal between Tuesday and Friday in view of the likely formation of the cyclonic storm.

New Delhi: A low-pressure area that developed over the South Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm and is likely to reach the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha shores on May 10, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said. According to him, the low-pressure area is very likely to move north-westwards and intensify into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal, and into a cyclonic storm over the east-central Bay of Bengal, news agency PTI reported.

The Met Department has stated that the depression is likely to further intensify into a cyclonic storm by Sunday evening.

Thunderstorms, Heavy Rainfall In Gangetic West Bengal

As per the weather office, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are likely to be witnessed over the districts of Gangetic West Bengal between May 10 and 13 (Tuesday and Friday) in view of the likely formation of the cyclonic storm.

If the system turns into a cyclone, it will be called Asani, a name given by Sri Lanka, the Telegraph reported. In Sinhalese, Asani means wrath.

Gangetic Bengal, including Kolkata, is likely to witness heavy rain between May 10 and 13. There is a strong possibility of powerful thunderstorms in Kolkata from May 10, Met officials said. The actual impact will depend on the course of the storm.

Odisha Prepared To Face Any Eventuality: Special Relief Commissioner

IMD Senior Scientist Umashankar Das said that the well-marked low-pressure area now lies over southeast Bay of Bengal adjoining south Andaman sea. "It's expected to move in northwest direction till the evening of 10th May, after that it will move towards the northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coast," he informed, as quoted by news agency ANI.

"From May 10 wind speeds over Odisha, North Andhra Pradesh will be 70-80 kmph. Fishermen advised not to venture into the sea due to rough conditions. Odisha, North Andhra, and the west-central Bay of Bengal will be affected," he added.

According to the senior scientist, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, and Khordha districts will be affected by heavy rainfall while light to moderate rainfall will occur over coastal parts of Odisha.

The Odisha government has said that its disaster response and fire services teams have been kept on standby after the forecast.

The region has witnessed cyclones in the last three summers: 'Yaas' in 2021, 'Amphan' in 2020, and 'Fani' in 2019.

Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said that 17 teams of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), 20 teams of ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force), and 175 teams of fire department personnel have been requisitioned.

Additionally, the NDRF authorities have been requested to reserve 10 more teams for any emergency.

"The IMD can give details of the cyclone, its wind speed, landfall location only after the formation of the depression on May 7. As the sea condition may be rough from May 9, fishermen should not venture out. We have estimated that the wind speed of the cyclonic storm will remain at 80-90 kmph in the sea," Mohapatra said, as quoted by PTI.

He informed that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have been put on alert to maintain a vigil on the movement of fishermen in the sea.

After holding a video conference with the collectors of 18 districts, the Special Relief Commissioner assured that Odisha is prepared to face any eventuality. The collectors have been put on alert and asked to take all measures required.

Director-General of Fire Services SK Upadhaya stated that all leaves of fire services personnel have been cancelled. 

Meanwhile, the energy department and telecom service providers have been asked to take up restoration work immediately if their towers are affected by a possible cyclone.

Is Landfall Between Andhra Pradesh And Odisha Certain?

Whether or not the cyclonic storm makes landfall between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha remains to be seen.

"We have not yet made any forecast on where it will make landfall. We have also not mentioned anything on the possible wind speed during the landfall," IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra said, as quoted by PTI.

Similarly, GK Das, Director, India Meteorological Department, Kolkata said that "there are several possibilities. The cyclone might take a recurve and move towards Bangladesh. It might weaken because of hot and dry northwesterly winds in the middle levels of the atmosphere. More clarity will emerge by Sunday", the Telegraph reported.