Tag: Cyclone Asani

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that the system is very likely to recurve slowly north-northeastwards and move along Andhra Pradesh coast between Kakinada and Visakhapatnam and then emerge into Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts.

In the past 24 hours, light to moderate rain/thunderstorm has occurred at many places over the districts of coastal Odisha and at one or two places over the districts of interior Odisha with heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Cuttack, Bhadrak and Deogarh.

Thereafter, the system is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. It is likely to weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours.

The fishermen from Sanaryapalli, Bada Aryapalli and Golabandha areas were returning to the coast in their six fishing vessels. However, the boats sank after being caught in the rough sea conditions at Aryapalli

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it is very likely to move nearly northwestwards till Tuesday night and reach westcentral Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh coast and adjoining Odisha coast.

The railways said it has planned for early restoration of train traffic and railway track, if affected by cyclone or heavy rain.

As per Meteorological Centre Bhubaneswar, the severe cyclonic storm moved with a speed of 12 kmph in west-northwest direction during last six hours

Some fishermen reported to be residents from Chikiti area of Ganjam district were returning from Vishakhapatnam to Ganjam on a boat. However due to some technical glitches in the boat, they were left stuck in the sea around 1 km from the coast near Sonepur in Ganjam, Jena told reporters.

IMD has issued heavy rainfall alert for several districts in Odisha in the next couple of days under the influence of cyclonic storm 'Asani'.

As per IMD, the severe cyclonic storm is likely to move northwest wards till May 10 and reach northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coasts. It is likely to recurve and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast.

IMD has also predicted Gale wind and light to moderate rains along the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coast from May 10 to 12.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena has assured that there will be no impact of Cyclone Asani in Odisha as it will move 100 km away off Puri coast.

“While Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams are kept ready for Ganjam, Puri, Astarang, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts, the district Collectors have been empowered to take steps for evacuation if necessary,” Jena informed. 

Notably, Asani is this year’s first cyclone and its name has been recommended by Sri Lanka where in Sinhala, its official language, it translates to 'wrath.'

Even though Cyclonic storm Asani is unlikely to make landfall in Odisha coast, it will mostly trigger heavy rainfall in several districts of the State while brushing along the coastline of Odisha on May 10.