Heavy rain expected as cyclone looms

Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are expected to receive rain due to low pressure effect

Heavy rain has been forecast for Karnataka over the weekend due to a low pressure trough that is expected to form over Arabian Sea, an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said yesterday.

“A low pressure is expected to form over southeast Arabian Sea, which can further intensify into depression and form into a cyclone,” IMD Bengaluru Director-in charge C.S. Patil told IANS here.

As a result of the low pressure over the Arabian Sea, the coastal and south interior districts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, are expected to receive heavy widespread rains, Patil said. Neighbouring districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are also likely to receive heavy rain due to the low pressure effect.

The next storm would claim the name Luban, as suggested by Oman in accordance with an international naming convention, websites reported.

The southern state capital has been receiving rain over the past week. The heavy rain during the last week of September had inundated several low-lying areas of the city, uprooting trees and flooding arterial roads.

Bengaluru, which received intermittent rain due to the southwest monsoon from June to September, however, continues to face about 20 per cent deficit of rainfall.

The state, which was reeling under drought conditions due to a deficit of rain over the past few years, has received an average of 78cm of rain till September 30 since the onset of the southwest monsoon on June 4.

The average rainfall across the state due to the monsoon is only about 6 per cent below the season’s normal of 83cm.