Cyclone Asani March 20 Live News: Cyclone Asani is likely to make a landfall in the Andamans, the latest weather department update says. An Indian Meteorological Department tweet said that the depression that is currently over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a deep depression in the next 24 hours.
On Sunday, hundreds of civilians were evacuated from the Andaman and Nicobar’s coastal region, local officials say. The archipelago witnessed strong gust of wind and heavy rains on Sunday due to the depression in the Bay of Bengal.
Local administration has suspended the inter-island shipping services as well as those coming from Chennai and Vishakhapatnam. Local fishermen have been issued a warning to not venture into the rough sea as India’s first cyclone of 2022 brews in the Bay of Bengal.
Over 150 NDRF personnel have been flown in the Andamans and six relief camps have already been set up, authorities say.
The weather bureau has forecast light-to-moderate rainfall and thundershower at most places of the Union Territory on Sunday. Heavy-to-very heavy rainfall is expected at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places.
On Monday, most places of the Union Territory are likely to witness moderate rainfall and thundershower, while isolated heavy rainfall is expected at Andaman Islands. The Met office has also issued advisories for all fisherfolk and urged them not to venture into the Andaman Sea and the southeast Bay of Bengal.
Also Read | Cyclone Asani: Andaman MP wants disaster management machinery on high alert, writes to Lieutenant Governor
On Friday, Andaman and Nicobar Islands MP Kuldeep Rai had requested the Lieutenant Governor to put the islands’ disaster management machinery on high alert.
IMPACT ON TAMIL NADU
The Met forecast suggests Tamil Nadu could escape the cyclone’s impact. However, the state is likely to experience hotter days and humid nights due to the delayed entry of easterly winds.
Chennai is expected to witness maximum temperatures around 36°C, while the state’s interior districts could see the mercury surging to 40°C. Some parts of Tamil Nadu are expected to receive isolated light rainfall.
WEST BENGAL FORECAST
The cyclone is also expected to steer clear of West Bengal. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata, however, has advised the state’s fisherfolk to not venture into the deep seas during this period.
As the system moves closer to the Myanmar and Bangladesh coasts, it will impact parts of east and northeast India.
Only six cyclones have been recorded in the Bay of Bengal in March since records began in 1901. Cyclone Asani, if it forms, will become the seventh.
