Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Asani neared the East Coast is on gradual weakening on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The cyclone, which was moving at 5 kmph in the morning, gained speed to 25 kmph later in the day, as it lays centered around 210 km south-southeast of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and 530 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha, according to the latest bulletin issued at 4.30 PM.
The system is expected to recurve on Tuesday evening and move parallel to the coast in the north-northeast direction.
IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said that cyclone Asani has already achieved maximum stage of intensification and is gradually getting weakened.
“After nearing the Andhra Pradesh coast in the evening, the system will change its course and move off and along the Odisha coast,” he said.
Dr.Mohapatra said that the severe cyclonic storm will weaken into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday and turn into a deep depression on Thursday.
Bhubaneswar Regional Meteorological Centre Director H R Biswas said that the severe cyclonic storm has already started losing steam.
Light to moderate rainfall took place in Puri and Khurda, while very heavy downpour is likely to occur in some places in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and coastal Odisha from Tuesday night.
He said the gale-force wind speed will decline to 80-90 kmph by Tuesday night and to 60-70 kmph by Wednesday evening.
The MeT Department has warned fishermen against venturing into deep sea till Thursday, as Odisha braced for heavy rain in the coastal areas. Rainfall was recorded in Ganjam, Puri and Khurda on Tuesday morning.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said local authorities have been put on alert to face heavy rain and water-logging and asked to undertake evacuation of people from 15 blocks in four coastal districts.
The Ganjam district administration has closed all beaches including Gopalpur for visitors for two days.
SRC has directed Principal Secretaries of Fisheries and Animal Resource Development and Commerce & Transport and Collectors of coastal districts to take stern action against those fishermen who are venturing into sea despite warnings from the IMD, district administrations and other agencies.
He directed the district magistrates of Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore to take stern action against such people as per the Disaster Management Act- 2005.
As many as 12 ODRAF teams have been dispatched to Malkangiri, Koraput, Ganjam and Gajapati, Puri and Jagatsighpur districts as a precautionary step.
Similarly, 12 fire service teams have been sent to Koraput, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts, said DG Fire Services S K Upadhyay.
Sea condition is likely to remain very high on Tuesday, and become very rough on May 12 before improving thereafter, said IMD.
Under the influence of the cyclone, Odisha and West Bengal had received heavy to moderate rainfall on Monday.
