New Delhi: Cyclone Asani which had formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal, further intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday evening. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the storm is moving in the northwest direction towards the north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts
The severe cyclone, on reaching westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts on Tuesday, is very likely to recurve north-northeast wards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast, it said.
The weather department further said that the severe cyclonic storm 'Asani' is very likely to move northwestwards till Tuesday night and reach Westcentral and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. As the storm is moving towards Odisha, light to moderate rainfall is very likely to commence from Tuesday evening at many places over coastal districts and heavy rainfall (7 -11cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, and Puri, added the Meteorological Centre.
Tracking the intensity of the storm, IMD further said that Asani is very likely to lose some steam thereafter and turn into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday and further into a deep depression on Thursday, the Met department said in its forecast of Asani's track and intensity.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the deep sea area over the central parts of the Bay of Bengal on May 9-10 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal from May 10-12, as per the weather department. Fishermen whoever out at sea are advised to return to the coast by the morning of 10th May.
Odisha's Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said the state government has made adequate arrangement for rescue operations.
"We do not see any big danger in the state as the system will pass around 100 kilometer off the coast near Puri," he said, according to a PTI report.
However, rescue teams of NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Services are on standby and will take immediate action if the situation worsens.
A unit of NDRF has been deployed in Balasore and a unit of ODDRAF was sent to Ganjam district. ODRAF teams are also on standby in Krushna Prasad, Satpada, Puri and Astarang block in Puri district, and Jagatsinghpur, Mahakalpada and Rajnagar in Kendrapara, and Bhadrak.
All the districts have been put on alert and collectors have been empowered to undertake evacuation, keeping in view the local situation, Jena said. Director-General of Odisha's Fire Services SK Upadhaya said all the 339 fire stations have been put on alert.
The cyclone is likely to bring light to moderate rainfall over Gangetic West Bengal from Tuesday to Friday with heavy downpour at one or two places in the coastal districts of the state, the weather office said.
Cyclone Asani is a name given by Sri Lanka that means 'wrath' in Sinhalese. India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday morning said that the cyclonic storm named 'Asani' is expected to further intensify in the next 24 hours.
(with inputs from agencies)