Cyclone Asani will travel along the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, eventually reaching the Bangladesh-north Myanmar shores on March 22,” the IMD stated.Recommending fishermen not to enter into the Bay of Bengal or the Andaman Sea during this time.
The system is likely to make its way to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border region.In a tweet on Sunday at 11: 30 IST, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that Cyclone Asani is anticipated to develop into a deep depression during the next 24 hours.
Further elaborating its advisory, the weather office stated that yesterday’s well-marked low-pressure region condensed into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea.It is expected to track about northward along and off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the following 24 hours.
It is likely to intensify into a deep depression and then into a cyclonic storm over the next 12 hours.Andaman and Nicobar Islands are predicted to have extremely heavy rains and severe gusts during the next two days while under its influence.
On Sunday afternoon, Indian Coast Guard ships were shepherding fishermen out to sea and delivering weather warnings in advance of Cyclone Asani.The Directorate of Shipping Services has ordered that all inter-island services be suspended until March 22. The Visakhapatnam-bound MV Campbell and the Chennai-bound MV Sindhu were both cancelled.
According to Andaman and Nicobar Islands officials, rain and heavy gusts hit the north and middle Andamans, while life in Port Blair remained normal. As per the alert, schools and institutions have been closed due to the cyclone, and dangerous and unsecured constructions have been dismantled to avoid any harm from randomly flying sharp materials such as tin sheets.Â
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced two days earlier that one National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) unit had been deployed in Port Blair and that additional teams were ready and would be airlifted if necessary.
Around 150-200 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed, and six relief camps have been established in various parts of the islands. The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is prepared with appropriate emergency supplies and measures to protect the populace and restore infrastructure, according to the Ministry.
Additionally, fishing, tourist, and shipping operations have been suspended. Fishermen are urged to return from the water. The Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are all on alert. Central Ministries are prepared to assist, if necessary, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced.
The Union Home Secretary has asked central ministries and agencies to monitor and communicate with the Andaman and Nicobar Administration on a regular basis, the official added.“A depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea was situated about 110 kilometres north-northwest of Car Nicobar on Sunday at 0830 IST (Nicobar Islands).
Edited by – Subbuthai Padma
Published by- Iram Rizvi
