The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the cyclonic storm Asani over the southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday evening. The Meteorological Department said that the cyclone moved northwestwards towards north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast.
Earlier, a bulletin issued by the Meteorological Department said, “Cyclone ‘Asni’ over Southeast Bay of Bengal moved almost northwestwards with a speed of 14 kmph during the last 6 hours, a severe Intensified into a cyclonic storm and lay centered at 1730 hrs. Today’s IST, on 08 May, over Southeast and adjoining East Central Bay of Bengal, near Latitude 12.2°N and Longitude 88.2°E, Car Nicobar (Nicobar Islands) About 610 km north-west of the group), 500 km west of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 810 km south-east of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 880 km south-southeast of Puri (Odisha).”
The Meteorological Department said that the severe cyclone is very likely to turn north-northeastwards and move towards the Bay of West Bengal from the Odisha coast, which will move towards west central and adjoining north-west Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts on Tuesday. reach the bay.
IMD Director General Mrityunjay Mohapatra said the system would not make landfall in Odisha or Andhra Pradesh. “The cyclone will move parallel to the east coast and cause rain from Tuesday evening,” he said.
Odisha prepares
Meanwhile, Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said that the state government has made adequate arrangements for the rescue operation.
“We do not see any major threat in the state as the system will pass around 100 km from the coast near Puri,” he said.
However, rescue teams from NDRF, ODRAF and fire services are ready to deal with any situation.
One unit of NDRF has been deployed in Balasore and one unit of ODDRAF has been sent to Ganjam district. ODRAF teams are also on standby in Krishna Prasad, Satpara, Puri and Atarang blocks of Puri district and Jagatsinghpur, Mahakalpada and Rajnagar and Bhadrak in Kendrapara.
Jena said all districts have been put on alert and collectors have been empowered to evacuate people keeping in mind the local situation.
Director General of Odisha Fire Service SK Upadhyay said all 339 fire stations have been put on alert.
According to the IMD, there is a possibility of heavy rain in some areas of Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri on Tuesday. Heavy rain may occur in Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack the next day. There is a possibility of heavy rain in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore on Thursday.
status in west bengal
The Meteorological Office said that the cyclone is likely to bring light to moderate rains over Gangetic West Bengal from Tuesday to Friday.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said, “Following the weather forecast, disaster management teams have been put on alert.”
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is taking all measures on standby to clear the blockages caused by fallen trees and other debris.
A state government official said that the administrations of East Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas are keeping cyclone shelters, schools and other pucca structures ready in case evacuation is needed, apart from arranging dry food and essential medicines.
The Met Office has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea and off West Bengal and Odisha coasts from Tuesday till further notice.
Mamata Banerjee postpones meetings
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has postponed her district administration meetings to be held between May 10-12, as the focus is on the management of the impending cyclone Asani.
The Chief Minister will visit Midnapore and Jhargram on May 17, 18, 19 instead of May 10, 11, 12 as per the pre-determined schedule. The decision was taken to review the disaster preparedness of various districts amid the threat of cyclone.
(with PTI inputs)