Cyclone Asani: Severe cyclonic storm Asani that has formed over the Bay of Bengal is expected to weaken into a cyclonic storm in the next 48 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The cyclone is moving towards coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha at a speed of 25 km per hour. The weather department has predicted light to moderate rainfall over coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into west-central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal on Monday.
According to the weather agency, the coastal districts of East Midnapore, South and North 24 Parganas are predicted to receive rain by Thursday. Kolkata is unlikely to be impacted. Meanwhile, the Odisha government is planning to evacuate people living in low-lying areas as a precautionary measure. The Odisha government has asked the district collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsingpur and Kendrapara to evacuate people to cyclone shelters when these districts start to receive rainfall.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has put its officials on alert in the wake of Cyclone Asani and has cancelled the leaves of all employees. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur over E Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam districts with squally winds of speed 40-50 gusting 60 kmph over north coastal Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Asani intensifies, the Amravati Meteorological Centre said.
Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over Arunachal Pradesh & Assam-Meghalaya from 10th-13th May & over Nagaland-Manipur-Mizoram-Tripura-Assam from 9th-13th May. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu & Kerala today,” the weather department said.