Cyclone Asna: Deep depression over Arabian Sea intensifies near Gujarat
A deep depression over the Kutch coast and adjoining areas of Pakistan and northeast Arabian Sea has intensified into a cyclonic storm named "Asna," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported on Friday. The cyclonic storm is currently located approximately 190km west-northwest of Bhuj, 100km west-northwest of Naliya in Gujarat, and 170km southeast of Karachi in Pakistan. It is expected to continue moving west-northwestwards over the northeast Arabian Sea, away from the Indian coast, for the next two days.
Cyclone Asna's projected path and local precautions
The IMD predicts that Cyclone Asna will move further away from the Indian coast toward Oman. As precaution, Kutch district collector Amit Arora has urged residents in Abdasa, Mandvi, and Lakhpat talukas to evacuate their huts and makeshift homes. He advised them to seek shelter in schools or other stable buildings as a precaution against the approaching storm.
Arabian Sea cyclones: A rare occurrence in August
The formation of cyclonic storms over the Arabian Sea in August is an unusual event. According to IMD records, only three such storms have developed in this region between 1891 and 2023. These occurred in 1976, 1964, and 1944 respectively. All these cyclones had their origins over land before strengthening into cyclonic storms when they reached the sea.
Low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal
Meanwhile, a well-marked low-pressure area over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwestwards. It is expected to continue moving in this direction toward north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts. The IMD warns that it may intensify into a depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal within the next 36 hours. This weather system could bring very heavy rainfall to Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha (Maharashtra), and Telangana in the coming days.
