The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday informed that cyclonic storm ‘Aasani’ is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over east-central Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours. .
IMD further informed that it is very likely to reach north Andhra Pradesh and off the coasts of Odisha on May 10. The IMD said that the deep pressure over the southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm “easily” on Sunday.
He said, ‘The deep pressure has intensified into a cyclonic storm named ‘Asni’. It is moving in north-west direction with a speed of 16 kmph. It is at a distance of 970 km from Visakhapatnam in South-East direction and 1020 km in South-East direction from Puri,” said Umashankar Das, Senior Scientist, IMD.
Additionally, Das said that the rains are likely to start on the evening of May 10. Till now, a yellow warning for rain has been issued for 3 districts Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri. He said that on May 11, a warning of heavy rain was issued in five districts of Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack and Ganjam.
“We are expecting it to move in a northwest direction by the evening of May 10. It is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours. There is no chance of making landfall, it will move further parallel to Odisha coast,” said senior IMD scientist.
Meanwhile, Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena said on Saturday that Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri in Odisha are likely to receive rain on May 10 and 11. The low pressure has intensified into a depression located about 1,300 km south-east of Puri, moving in a north-westerly direction. He said that by May 10 there will be depression.
Jena told media persons in Bhubaneswar, “The low pressure has intensified into a depression located in northwest direction about 1,300 km south-east of Puri and will intensify into a depression by May 10. 10 more in Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri.” Rain is expected on May 11.” ,
(with inputs from agencies)