Lagatar24 Desk
Bengaluru, March 21: As a depression over the north Andaman Sea builds into a cyclone, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rains in portions of Karnataka this week. Rain is likely to fall in South Western Karnataka until Thursday, March 24, according to the IMD.
High alert has been issued for the state’s coastline and Malnad districts. The depression in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea is forecast to bring rain, thunder, and lightning. The IMD issued a yellow alert in seven districts from March 21 to March 24: Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, and Haasan.
Light to moderate scattered/fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning very likely over Northeast India during next 5 days. Isolated heavy rainfall also very likely over Arunachal Pradesh on 21st, 24th & 25th March, 2022.
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) March 21, 2022
On Thursday and Friday, rain is expected in the northern districts of Gadag, Haveri, Dharwad, Belagavi, and Raichur, as well as showers in Bengaluru. An orange alert was issued for Dakshina Kannada on Friday. On March 20, rain poured in portions of Bengaluru and Mysuru.
The depression over the north Andaman Sea, according to the IMD, is predicted to grow into a cyclone by Monday evening, March 21. The depression had deepened and was heading north-northeastward at a speed of 12 kilometres per hour, according to the report.
“It is expected to proceed almost northwards along and off the Andaman Islands, toward the Myanmar coast, over the next 48 hours,” said IMD.
Residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas of the archipelago have been evacuated and are being housed in temporary relief camps in the North, Middle, and South Andaman districts, according to officials. All inter-island ferry services, as well as shipping services to Chennai and Visakhapatnam, have been discontinued, and all educational institutions have been closed as a result of the terrible weather, they said.
According to officials, the National Disaster Response Force has sent about 150 employees, and six assistance centres have opened in various regions of the islands. As of 8.30 a.m. on Monday, Long Island had received 131 mm of rain, while Port Blair had received 26.1 mm. In each of the three union territory’s districts, control rooms have also been built.
The weather service has advised that all tourism and fishing operations be halted for the next two days due to the forecasted stormy sea. On Monday and Tuesday, fisherman should avoid going into the southeast Bay of Bengal, as well as the Andaman Sea.
