Asani skips WB, heads for Vizag, AP
IMD officials claimed that severe Cyclonic storm ‘Asani’ won’t bring any destruction to West Bengal and the landfall will be likely over Andhra coast in the wee hours of Wednesday.
As per IMD director Sanjib Bandhopadhyay, the severe cyclonic storm (at the time of reporting) is 310 km away from Visakhapatam and 570 km away from Puri and at 3 am will reach Andhra coast.
“Whether it will make landfall is still not clear but it is moving in Northwest wards in Bay of Bengal. After reaching Andhra coast, it will move towards Odisha coast,” said Bandhopadhyay.
“It is very likely to move nearly northwestwards and reach Westcentral Bay of Bengal close to Kakinada-Visakhapatnam coasts by May 11 morning. Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve slowly north northeast wards and move along Andhra Pradesh coast. It is likely to weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm by and further into a depression by May 12 morning,” further added the IMD director.
On Tuesday, Kolkata and its neighbouring areas witnessed scattered rainfall and control rooms have been opened to take stock.
Rains accompanied by gusty winds started lashing many parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Coastal city of Visakhapatnam was receiving heavy spells of rain with gusty winds, throwing the normal life out of gear and disrupting vehicular traffic.
Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kujmar Bhalla on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness of the Central ministries, agencies and the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in view of Asani.