The India Meteorological Department said that Cyclone Asani has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday evening.The weather department has sounded an alert for Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha.
In view of the formation of a severe cyclonic storm, Asani, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal are bracing up for the cyclone as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in these states.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has put its employees and disaster management teams on alert. The KMC has also set up a control room in view of the cyclone.
Heavy rains accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms lashed Kolkata on Monday morning, inundating many areas of the city. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim told news agency PTI that KMC has put on alert its employees and disaster management teams in view of the formation of cyclonic storm Asani, which is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclone.
KMC ON ALERT
“Leaves of all employees concerned are being cancelled to deal with any emergency evolving due to the cyclone,” he added. The IMD has predicted light to moderate rainfall over Gangetic West Bengal from Tuesday to Friday.
It has also warned of heavy downpours at one or two places in the coastal districts of Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. These districts are keeping cyclone shelters, schools and other pucca structures, dry food and necessary medicines ready to deal with any situation that may occur, reported PTI.
On Sunday morning, the IMD said that cyclonic storm Asani is likely to further intensify in the next 24 hours. The weather agency has sounded an alert for Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal and heavy rain is likely to lash these states tomorrow.
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In its latest weather bulletin, the IMD said, “It is very likely to move northwestwards till 10th May and reach Westcentral and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh & Odisha coasts. Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards Northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast. It is likely to weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm during next 48 hours.” (sic)
According to the IMD, Asani would not make landfall either in Andhra Pradesh or Odisha and as it would recurve in the sea north-northeastwards on May 10.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS IN BENGAL
The district administrations of the coastal areas have taken the necessary measures and are continuously passing on the information to the public via loudspeakers and local panchayats. Emergency response teams have been deployed in vulnerable areas with each team comprising civil defence volunteers.
Boats have also been deployed at strategic locations and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been put on alert.
ODISHA READY FOR ASANI
The Odisha government said that it is prepared to tackle any emergency situation even after getting the information that the cyclone will not hit the state’s coast.
Odisha special relief commissioner Pradeep Jena said that adequate arrangements have been made to evacuate 7.5 lakh people in 18 districts if any emergency situation arises. Though the prediction by IMD so far has given some kind of relief, we have not lowered our preparedness, he added.
Moreover, as part of a precautionary measure, 175 specialised teams of Odisha Fire Services have been formed to deploy in likely affected districts of the state.
Light to moderate rainfall is very likely to commence from Tuesday evening at many places over districts of coastal Odisha and heavy rainfall (7 -11cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, and Puri, the weather agency said.
ADVISORY FOR FISHERMEN
“Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea from May 10. Fishermen out at sea are advised to return to the coast by the evening of May 9. Fishing and tourism activities should be suspended between May 10 to 12, 2022,” advised the weatherman.
The IMD has warned of light to moderate rainfall over adjoining areas of north coastal Andhra Pradesh on May 10 and 11.
