Severe cyclone Asani rages in Bay of Bengal; Odisha plans evacuation

By PTI

BHUBANESWAR/KOLKATA/PORT BLAIR: With extreme cyclonic storm Asani packing gale-force winds as much as 120 kmph and shifting in direction of the east coast bringing alongside heavy rain, the Odisha authorities on Monday deliberate evacuation of individuals residing in 4 coastal districts.

The system lays centered round 550 km southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 680 km south-southeast of Puri in Odisha at 5.30 am on Monday and was shifting in direction of the coast at 25 kmph, a bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 8.45 am stated.

Distant warning sign 2 (asking ships to not come close to the coast) has been hoisted in all ports in Odisha in view of the approaching extreme cyclone.

“The system is very likely to move northwestwards till Tuesday and reach westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh & Odisha coasts,” the climate workplace stated.

“Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast. It is likely to weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during the next 48 hours,” the bulletin stated.

The system is not going to make landfall both in Odisha or Andhra Pradesh, IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohaptra had stated on Sunday.

He had stated the cyclone will transfer parallel to the east coast and trigger rainfall.

The climate workplace stated very excessive sea situations have been more likely to prevail over westcentral and adjoining south Bay of Bengal and requested fishermen to not enterprise out within the area for the subsequent couple of days.

Under the affect of the cyclone, coastal Odisha and adjoining areas of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and coastal West Bengal are anticipated to obtain rainfall from Tuesday night, the climate workplace stated.

With the IMD predicting 7-11 cm rainfall in components of coastal Odisha, the state authorities has recognized 15 blocks in 4 districts unfold over Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara the place regular life could also be affected as a result of downpour.

Special Relief Commissioner P Ok Jena has requested the district collectors to evacuate folks from the 15 blocks to security.

He stated that state doesn’t anticipate wind velocity above 60 kmph however folks residing in kutcha homes could also be susceptible resulting from heavy rainfall.

Jena additionally requested officers involved to confess girls prematurely phases of being pregnant to hospitals earlier than due date.

Heavy rain triggered by the extreme cyclone lashed a number of districts of south Bengal together with Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Purba Medinipur and Nadia on Monday morning, a MeT official stated.

“Rainfall may increase as the day progresses. There are predictions of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. We advise people to stay in safe places during rainfall,” he stated.

In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, nevertheless, regular life remained unaffected as no rainfall was skilled on Monday.

Inter-island ferry providers have been operational however fishermen have been suggested to not enterprise into deep seas, officers stated.

Moderate rainfall was skilled within the archipelago on Sunday morning and night, they stated.