Cyclone Asna, which formed over the coast of Kutch in Gujarat earlier on Friday, has moved into the Arabian Sea and is now heading towards Oman, sparing the region from any major impact, officials reported.
A satellite image captured between 12:15 and 12:45 IST on August 30 showed the deep depression over the Kutch coast and adjacent areas of Pakistan, as well as the northeastern Arabian Sea. Despite the storm’s formation, there have been no significant damages reported in Gujarat.
“As a precautionary measure, the local administration had relocated approximately 3,500 people to safer locations and advised residents in huts and mud houses to seek shelter in sturdier buildings,” said Kutch District Collector Amit Arora.
Arora further noted, “Since the cyclone has already entered the sea and is now heading towards Oman, there was minimal impact on the coast. Aside from some rainfall and strong winds, no major incidents have been reported. There have been no reports of injuries, fatalities, or the collapse of major structures.”
In a statement issued on Friday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the deep depression over the Kutch coast and adjacent areas of Pakistan had intensified into Cyclonic Storm Asna by 11:30 a.m. The storm was located roughly 190 km west-northwest of Bhuj at that time.
Earlier, the IMD had predicted that the depression could intensify into a cyclonic storm by Friday morning, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures. In response, Amit Arora issued a video message urging residents in Abdasa, Mandvi, and Lakhpat talukas to evacuate vulnerable huts and kutcha houses and seek shelter in safer buildings such as schools.
Following the IMD’s warning, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the State Emergency Operations Centre in Gandhinagar on Thursday night to review the district administration’s preparedness. He also held a video conference with Arora to assess the situation.
If the deep depression had intensified into a cyclone, it was to be named Asna, a name suggested by Pakistan. The development of Cyclone Asna is notable as it is rare for a deep depression over land to convert into a cyclonic storm over the sea. Additionally, the formation of a cyclone in August in the Arabian Sea is an uncommon occurrence, according to meteorological experts.
The IMD also warned of rough sea conditions and wind speeds reaching up to 75 kmph along and off the Gujarat coast during the period of the storm.
As Cyclone Asna moves away from India, officials continue to monitor its trajectory towards Oman, ensuring that appropriate safety measures remain in place for the affected regions.
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