Asani intensifies into severe cyclonic storm, to pass by 100 km from coast on May 11

Asani - it means wrath in Sinhala - is the first cyclone of 2022 over the Bay of Bengal and likely to miss the Andhra-Odisha coast by 100 km on May 11, IMD officials said.

Published on: May 9, 2022, 01:46:20 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneswar: Cyclonic storm Asani brewing over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday evening as it lay 880km away from Puri coast and continued to move at a speed of 14 kmph, India Meteorological Department officials said in Bhubaneswar.

Odisha special relief commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena today said the district collectors and municipal commissioners have been asked to make a decision on evacuation, as and when necessary (IMD)

Asani - it means wrath in Sinhala - is the first cyclone of 2022 over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to miss the Andhra-Odisha coast by 100 km on May 11, IMD officials said.

Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena today said the district collectors and municipal commissioners have been asked to make a decision on evacuation, as and when necessary. “We do not apprehend a danger, however, no chances can be taken. Especially, in case of the low lying and other vulnerable areas, people will be evacuated if the situation arises. Municipal teams are ready to carry out dewatering in case there is water logging and artificial flooding,” said Jena.

“As it will recurve and move parallel to the Odisha coast from Puri (onwards), the system will weaken into a deep depression on May 12. However, May 11 will remain crucial in terms of moderate to heavy rainfall and high-speed winds ranging between 50 to 60 kmph, in coastal and adjoining districts. Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, and Jagatsinghpur districts will witness rainfall between May 10 and 12. However, we do not think there is any danger of flooding,” said Jena.

He said Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams have been stationed in Ganjam, Puri, Satpada, Astaranga, Krushnaprasad, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Mahakalpara and Rajnagar. A full unit of NDRF has been stationed at Balasore. The DG of Fire Service has instructed teams in all districts to be alert and ready to act in case of any eventuality. Similarly, 10 to 15 fire units have been stationed at the headquarters, said Jena.

All fishermen of the state have come back from the sea. and from Monday boat movement in Chilika lake would be stopped till the cyclone passes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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