- Bay of Bengal depression to intensify into very severe cyclonic storm.
- Cyclone expected to cross Andhra Pradesh coast around October 28.
- Fishermen advised to return; CM reviews safety measures.
The IMD on Saturday said the well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is likely to develop into a deep depression, a cyclonic storm and a very severe cyclonic storm by October 27.
The Met Department said the depression lay over east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal at 5:30 pm today.
"The well-marked low-pressure area over east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal concentrated into a depression and lay centred at 5:30 pm today over the same region about 510 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman Islands), 820 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam, 910 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 1,020 km east of Machilipatnam and 1,100 km east of Bapatla," it said in an official press release.
The system is very likely to move nearly southwards and intensify into a deep depression and then gradually recurve west to north-westwards over the east-central and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal by October 25.
Continuing to move west to north-westwards, it is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm over east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by October 26 morning.
Later, the weather system is forecast to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal around October 27 morning.
Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around October 28 morning.
It is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 115 to 125 km per hour and also gusting up to 140 kmph by October 28 forenoon.
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Under the influence of this system, the Met Department forecast rainfall in parts of the southern state from October 26 to 29.
It said thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are expected at isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema on October 26, 27 and 28, followed by scattered heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy rain likely at isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on October 27.
For October 28, the Met Department forecast scattered heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy rain likely at isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.On October 29, it predicted heavy rain in parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.
Meanwhile, the Met Department issued a cyclone alert to fishermen on October 22, advising them not to venture into the sea for fishing until October 29 and directing all fishing boats at sea to return to the coast immediately, said an official press release.
With a coastline of 1,053 km, covering 12 coastal districts, the southern state has 555 marine villages, 350 fish landing centres and 30,043 fishing boats.
Control rooms have been set up to continuously monitor the situation and track the movement of fishing boats.
As of Saturday, 29,952 fishing boats have safely returned to their respective fish landing centres, while the remaining 91 fishing boats are returning to the coast. The Fisheries Department is continuously monitoring the situation and taking all necessary measures to ensure that the remaining 91 fishing boats reach the coast safely by tonight.
"The government is giving the highest priority to the safety of fishermen and is taking all necessary precautionary measures to prevent loss of life and damage to fishing boats, fishing gear and other fishing equipment," said the press release.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation and directed officials to remain alert amid the evolving weather system, which is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm. The CM directed officials to alert people in low-lying areas, among other precautions.
Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by The Daily Jagran staff and has been published through a syndicated feed by PTI.