ગુજરાત સુધી અસર: આજે ચક્રવાત 'આસાની'ની બેટિંગ ઓડિશા, આંધ્રપ્રદેશ અને પશ્ચિમ બંગાળમાં જોવા મળશે; ભારે વરસાદની ચેતવણી

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Today, the effects of Cyclone Asani will be felt in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal; Heavy rain warning

The eastern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal are preparing for the cyclone to ease as it intensifies in the Bay of Bengal in the next 24 hours. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), severe cyclonic storms will bring heavy rains on May 10, 11 and 12 in coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and adjoining West Bengal.

Rains begin in West Bengal, Odisha

The effects of the storm are already being felt in three states as heavy rains and thunderstorms have lashed Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, since yesterday.

Rains have also started in Bhadrak city in Odisha. Bibekanand Das of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) said a team of 37 members had reached the spot to carry out rescue operations if needed.

In an interview with ANI, senior scientist Uma Shankar said that the deep depression in the southeastern Bay of Bengal had turned into a severe cyclonic storm and was 390 km southeast of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh by 5.30 pm on Monday, according to IMD. However, Uma Shankar said the cyclone would continue to move in a north-westerly direction till the evening of May 10, but ruled out any possibility of a landfall. Meanwhile, scattered showers are expected in coastal Odisha and adjoining areas of West Bengal on May 11 and 12.

The scientist said that the rains would start from the evening of May 10 and a yellow alert has been issued for rains in three districts of Odisha - Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri. Besides, heavy rain warning has been issued in five districts of the state - Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack and Ganjam. In a recent update, the IMD reported that the severe cyclonic storm was about 450 km south-east of Visakhapatnam by 11:30 a.m. today and would gradually weaken over the next 24 hours.

The IMD said the cyclone could move north-northeast and move northward along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha towards the Bay of Bengal. Meanwhile, yellow alerts have been issued in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. However, heavy to very heavy rains are expected in these areas on May 10 and 11.

The IMD has issued a warning to fishermen not to enter the Bay of Bengal till May 12 and to return to shore. Earlier today, the Odisha Chief Minister's Office said that several rescue teams had successfully airlifted 11 fishermen stranded in stormy seas off the coast of Ganjam. In addition, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has also placed its teams on high alert and is setting up 77 drainage pumping stations in the cities to prevent flooding.