Cyclone Asani

Meteorological Department scientist RK Janamani says that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be hit with heavy rain and strong winds on Monday as a depression moves from the Bay of Bengal toward the North.

“So far, it is a depression which will intensify into a deep depression by Monday morning, and it will further intensify into a cyclonic storm by Monday evening. If it emerges into a cyclonic storm, it will be known as Cyclone Asani,” said Mr. Janamani.

READ MORE: Cyclone Asani is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal next week: Weather Department

ANI reported that by Saturday evening, the depression over the Southeast and South Andaman seas was moving north at 12 km per hour.

“The Depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal, about 200km of north-northeast of Car Nicobar (northern part of Nicobar Islands) and 100 km of south-southeast of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), will intensify into a deep depression in the next 12 hours and further into a cyclonic storm,” he added.

Meanwhile, people from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been sent to different places and are ready with all the equipment they need to search and rescue people.

Indian Coast Guard ships have been guiding the fishers out to sea and giving them weather warnings on Sunday afternoon, just before Cyclone Asani comes to the area.

There has also been an end to fishing, tourism, and shipping. Fishers have been told to come back to land. The Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard are ready. Central Ministries are ready to help if needed, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.