Cyclone Asani may spare state, heavy rain unlikely

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to be spared the wrath of Cyclone Asani, which may not even bring heavy rainfall to the state, as was earlier anticipated, but instead of recurving deep into the sea, may actually touch the land along the Andhra Pradesh coast between Kakinada and Visakhapatnam on Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, the outer band of the cyclone brought light to moderate rainfall in several coastal areas, including state capital Bhubaneswar.
The IMD predicted light to moderate rain in coastal Odisha besides southern districts of Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput, which are closer to Andhra, over the next two days. Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla reviewed the situation through videoconference, which was attended by chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra and special relief commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena.
Jena said following the revised prediction that the storm may make landfall between Kakinada-Visakhapatnam, the Odisha government has tweaked its strategy and is sending disaster response teams to Koraput and Malkangiri as well. “As per the prediction, there may not be very heavy rainfall. But we are fully monitoring the situation,” Jena said.
IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the storm may come closer to the Andhra coast than was earlier anticipated and may partly enter the landmass before recurving towards northwest Bay of Bengal.