Bhubaneswar: The Depression over north Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a Deep Depression over the same region at 5.30 am of Monday about 110 km east-northeast of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 320 km north-northeast of Car Nicobar (Nicobar Islands) and 610 km south-southwest of Yangon (Myanmar).
The system is likely to intensify into cyclonic storm Asani and move nearly northwards along & off Andaman Islands towards Myanmar coast during the next 48 hours.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that light to moderate rainfall/thundershowers at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall are very likely over north Andaman Islands. Light to moderate rainfall at a few places is likely over Nicobar Islands.
Apart from the high rainfall, the IMD has also warned of higher wind speeds and expressed possibilities of damage to vulnerable structures, localised landslides/mudslides and damage to horticulture and standing crops in some areas due to squally wind and inundation.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into southeast Bay of Bengal today; into Andaman Sea and along & off Andaman and Nicobar Islands during March 21 and 22nd; into eastcentral Bay of Bengal during March 21 to 23; and into northeast Bay of Bengal on March 22 and 23.
