Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands):
With the first Cyclone Asani of the year scouring the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands government on Saturday issued an advice to fishermen urging them not to enter the sea during the March 19-22 cyclone period. to go.
“Fishermen are strongly advised not to go out to sea during the period of Cyclone Asani,” the Andaman and Nicobar government tweeted on Saturday morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast had said that the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal will be well marked in the morning by March 20 and turn into a cyclone storm on March 21. It will then move back and forth through the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, reaching the coasts of Bangladesh and northern Myanmar on March 22.
“LPA over central parts of the southern Bay of Bengal becomes WML on March 19 along and off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, intensifying to a depression on the morning of March 20 and into a cyclonic storm on March 21. To turn nearly north-northeast move and reach near the coast of Bangladesh and northern Myanmar on March 22,” the national weather forecasting agency tweeted on March 17.
In view of the forecast, the Island Administration has activated emergency control rooms. Chief Secretary Jitendra Narain Friday discussed preparations at the Union Territory level to deal with Cyclone Asani. All officers were instructed to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of all citizens.
The IMD had said in a statement Friday that the low pressure area over the central parts of the southeastern Bay of Bengal was moving east-northeast and was centered over the southeastern Bay of Bengal and the southern Andaman Sea at 8:30 a.m. (IST). East. Equatorial Indian Ocean.
It also forecast light to moderate rain or thunderstorms in most areas of the islands with heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas on Saturday with gusts of 45-55 km/h with gusts up to 65 km/h.
“The sea condition is very likely to become rough to very rough over the Andaman Sea and the adjacent southeastern Bay of Bengal on March 19. It would become very rough over the same region on March 20,” IMD said.
The IMD also issued an advice to fishermen which read: “Fishermen are advised not to venture into the southeastern areas of the Bay of Bengal from March 18 to 21; in the Andaman Sea and along and off the Andaman and Nicobar islands from March 18 to 22; in the eastern Bay of Bengal on March 21 and 22 and in the northeast of the Bay of Bengal on March 22.”
Union Home Minister Ajay Kumar Bhalla discussed on March 17 the preparedness of central ministries and agencies and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration in view of the approaching cyclone in the Bay of Bengal.
The Union’s Home Secretary had instructed central ministries and agencies to keep regular watch and liaison with the Andaman and Nicobar governments to address any situation.
Furthermore, fishing, tourism and shipping activities have been halted. Fishermen are advised to return from sea. Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard Standby. Central ministries are standing by to provide assistance if needed, the interior ministry said in a statement.