Cyclone Asani weakens into deep depression over coastal AP; yellow alert prevails

Amaravati: 'Cyclone Asani' has weakened into a deep depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal close to the Andhra Pradesh coast. Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) said Asani currently lies very close to the west of Machilipatnam. CWC said that it is likely to weaken into a depression by the morning of May 12.

CWC has issued a yellow alert in all the districts of the state on May 12 expecting heavy rainfall to occur at one or two places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. In the last 24 hours, places in Bapatla, Prakasam, Nellore, and Tirupati have witnessed heavy rainfall.

According to the rainfall update shared by Andhra Pradesh Weatherman B. Sai Praneeth at 6 am on 12 May, the following villages in the eastern parts of the Prakasam district experienced severe downpour and many got inundated.

Singarayakonda- 403 mm

Ulavapadu- 362 mm

Kandukur-276 mm

Zarugumalli-273 mm

Tangutur-177 mm

However, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on 12 May. "Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph along and off north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam," read CWC bulletin.

Damages to huts, power lines roads, and agricultural crops are likely to happen in Krishna, East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam of Puducherry during the next 6 hours.

"Moderate rains with few heavy spells are possible over many parts of AP, Telangana, Vidarbha, and Chattisgarh," Mahesh Palawat, of Skymetweather tweeted,

He said that the weakened deep depression will move along the AP coast and will further weaken into a depression by the late night of May 12. He urged the people of Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal not to panic as the impact likely would be less.