Visakhapatnam port has suspended operations as severe cyclonic storm Asani is expected to reach the port city soon. Cyclone Asani, which formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm in the past few days, as it moved towards Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Coming close to North Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts, it is likely to turn into a cyclonic storm.
The cyclone will not make landfall either in Odisha or Andhra Pradesh but will move parallel to the east coast and cause rainfall, IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra had said. The system, which lay about 500 km southeast of Visakhapatnam and 650 km south of Puri at 8.30 am on Monday, is moving in a north-westward direction with a sustained surface wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph. It has caused rainfall in Odisha and West Bengal during the day. Under the influence of the cyclone, coastal Odisha and adjoining areas of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and coastal West Bengal are expected to receive rainfall.
