New Delhi: As per the latest update by IMD, Cyclone Asani lies about 50 km southwest of MAchlipatnam, 150km south-southwest of Vishakapatnam in AP. A red alert has been issued in Guntur and Krishna districts where very heavy rainfall is expected. A yellow alert has been sounded in Vizianagram and Godavari region. The cyclone is unlikely to make landfall, however, will recurve north-northeastwards and move along Narsapur, Yanma, Kakinada and Vishakapatnam coasts before merging into the Bay of Bengal tonight. By Thursday morning the severe cyclonic storm is expected to gradually weaken into a depression.
Nine NDRF teams have been deployed in the coastal state and seven others kept on standby. One team is also deployed in the Orissa with 17 on standby. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea until Thursday morning. All flight services to and fro Vishakapatnam airport have been cancelled in view of the cyclone threat. The Uppada Beach road in Kakinada was closed in the wake of the damage sustained by the rough waves.
Meanwhile, a rainfall alert has also been sounded in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which will receive rainfall under the influence of the cyclone.