Cyclone Asani Highlights: Cyclonic storm makes landfall in coastal Andhra Pradesh, weakens into deep depression

Cyclonic storm Asani made landfall between Machilipatnam and Narsapuram in Andhra Pradesh late on Wednesday night after weakening into a deep depression, the State Disaster Management Authority said.

Asani would further weaken into a depression and emerge into the Bay of Bengal in the Yanam-Kakinada region in the state, SDMA Director B R Ambedkar said in a release.

However, coastal AP districts would receive moderate to heavy rainfall at isolated places with winds gushing to a speed of 50-60 km per hour, he said.

“People should remain cautious and fishermen should not venture into the sea as Bay of Bengal would continue to be rough,” Ambedkar added.

On Wednesday evening, Asani lay centred some 20-30 km off Machilipatnam coast in Krishna district.

Many districts along the Bay of Bengal coast witnessed moderate to heavy rain under the influence of Asani even as the government machinery has been fully geared up to meet any emergency. (PTI)

Several parts of Odisha and West Bengal are bracing for heavy rain as severe cyclone Asani weakened to a cyclonic storm on Wednesday, barrelling towards north coastal Andhra Pradesh, packing a wind speed of 85 km per hour, the Met Department said.

The weather system is likely to further lose steam and turn into a depression by Thursday morning, it said.

“It is very likely to move nearly northwards for next few hours and recurve slowly north-northeastwards along Narsapur, Yanam, Kakinada, Tuni and Visakhapatnam coasts during noon to evening on Wednesday, and emerge into west-central Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh coasts by night,” the India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin. (PTI)

As per the Met dept, Cyclonic storm Asani has moved nearly northwards and crossed Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Narsapur as a deep depression. It is likely to weaken further into a depression by 12th May Morning.

Due to cyclone 'Asani', the highest rainfall is recorded in Khordha district, followed by Gajapati and Naigarh. Ghasipura block in Kendujhar dist recorded 72.3 mm rain, Kanas block in Puri district with 56mm rain: Pradeep Kumar Jena, Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha (ANI)

As per the Met dept, as of 4.30pm on Wednesday, Cyclonic storm Asani lay centred about 30 kms east of Machilipatnam and 40 kms southwest of Narsapur.

Several parts of Odisha and West Bengal are bracing for heavy rain as severe cyclone Asani weakened to a cyclonic storm on Wednesday, barreling towards north coastal Andhra Pradesh, packing wind speed of 85 km per hour, the Met Department said. (PTI)

Rains triggered by Cyclone Asani substantially improved the air quality of the city on Wednesday as the index remained below 50 (particulate matter 2.5) in most parts, a West Bengal Pollution Control Board official said. The air quality improved by 60 percent from last week, he said. Last week the air quality index was hovering between 60-200 (AQI – PM 2.5) which had been the trend for the past one month, the official said. The rains, he said, have cleansed the air of fine pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and other particulate matters. “It is a known fact that rains improve air quality and lessens pollution. We hope similar conditions remain,” the official said. (PTI)

Isolated to scattered rainfall activity very likely over Telangana, Coastal & Interior Karnataka & Tamilnadu, Puducherry & Karaikal during next 5 days. Isolated heavy rainfall likely over Telangana on 11th May, 2022: IMD

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has conducted a videoconference with the collectors of coastal districts and reviewed the situation, according to news agency PTI. Reddy has asked officials to be on high alert and ensure they are geared up to meet any emergency. “Focus should be on preventing loss of lives,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

A mysterious gold-coloured chariot, suspected from another country, has washed ashore amid the impact of Cyclone Asani in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district on Tuesday. People were seen assembling near the seashore to have a glimpse of the chariot while some of them dragged it out of the water. The chariot resembles the shape of a monastery. Sharing details, the police said that the intelligence department had been informed of the incident.

Andhra | Cyclone is going to hit b/w Vishakapatnam & Kakinada. Heavy rains are expected. Wind speeds can go up to 80kmph. People in low-lying areas alerted. All are advised to not go to sea. Control room set up in collectorate, RTO offices & Mandal offices: (ANI)

Kerala and Tamil Nadu are likely to receive more rainfall today under the influence of Cyclone Asani. The two states have been witnessing moderate to heavy rainfall since Tuesday. Meanwhile, central Maharashtra and southern Konkam will witness cloudy sky conditions today and tomorrow, but chances of rainfall have been ruled out.  

A 'red' alert has been issued in Guntur and Krishna districts of coastal Andhra, warning of very heavy rainfall. A 'yellow' alert has been issued in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Godavari districts. 

Police say, “Pitch road is damaged, we put up 2 check-posts in our limits to control vehicular movement. Roads are getting damaged. We're stopping everybody from taking this route” – ANI

State government announced that action under Disaster Management Act will be taken against fishermen venturing into deep seas by not heeding the IMD warning.

“Some information being received that in spite of warning some fishermen r venturing in2 the sea. Dist Admin advised 2 do public miking in the areas & advise fisherfolk not to venture i2 sea till 12th May,” the SRC tweeted.

“…if someone doesn't listen & disobey, action under DM Act be taken against them,” he added.

The decision was taken after five fishing boats capsized in the sea near Chatrapur in Ganjam district during the day but all 65 fishermen swam ashore.

The incident took place after a boat carrying five fishermen capsized, and it hit four other fishing boats carrying a total of 60 people following which all the vessels sunk, an official said.

The fresh happenings come a day after 11 fishermen from Odisha returning home after buying a new boat in Visakhapatnam were stranded in the sea when the vessel developed a snag. They were later rescued. (PTI)

East Coast Railway (ECoR) has put its officials on high alert in the wake of possible heavy rainfall triggered by the cyclone and asked them to ensure speedy restoration of railway traffic, a statement said.

It has opened round-the-clock disaster management cells at its headquarters in Bhubaneswar and divisional headquarters in Visakhapatnam, Khurda Road and Sambalpur. ECoR has positioned special teams for early restoration of tracks, signaling system and electrification and also kept on standby diesel locomotives in case of power failure. (PTI)

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said local authorities have been put on alert to face heavy rain and water-logging and asked to undertake evacuation of people from 15 blocks in four coastal districts.

The Ganjam district administration has closed all beaches including Gopalpur for visitors for two days.

Sea condition is likely to remain very high on Tuesday, and become very rough on May 12 before improving thereafter. (PTI)

Cyclone warning & a red alert is given to Andhra Pradesh. Till yesterday, track was showing a northwest direction but in last 6 hrs it's moving towards WNW direction. So, it's very near to our Andhra Pradesh coast. In coming hours, it'll move towards NW direction & almost near Andhra Pradesh coast. Tomorrow morning it'll change its direction & move in NNE direction and touch Kakinada coast – east Godavari coast – and then move along parallel to Visakhapatnam coast in NE direction: Visakhapatnam cyclone warning centre director, Sunanda

Bhubaneswar Regional Meteorological Centre Director H R Biswas said that the severe cyclonic storm has already started losing steam.

Light to moderate rainfall took place in Puri and Khurda, while very heavy downpour is likely to occur in some places in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and coastal Odisha from Tuesday night.

He said the gale-force wind speed will decline to 80-90 kmph by Tuesday night and to 60-70 kmph by Wednesday evening. (PTI)