Port Blair, Mar 21: The Deep Depression over North Andaman Sea, which is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm ‘Asani’ during late evening hours of today (21 March 2022), has almost crossed North Andaman by 9.30 pm, without causing any major damage. As per last update available through ‘zoom earth’ weather monitoring site the system was present near Narcondam Island.
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is however in high alert and made all elaborate arrangements to deal with any kind of eventuality as initial input of India Meteorological Department (IMD) had suggested that the cyclone is about to hit the Andamans on 21st March 2022.
According to latest IMD release, The Deep Depression over north Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, moved nearly northwards with a speed of 13 kmph during last 06 hours, and lay centered at 1130 hours IST of today, 21st March, over the same region, near latitude 12.6°N and longitude 93.9°E, about 110 km east-southeast of Mayabunder (Andaman Islands), 170 km northeast of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 530 km southsouthwest of Yangon (Myanmar) and 650 km south of Thandwe (Myanmar).
“It is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during the evening hours of today. It would continue to move nearly northwards along & off Andaman Islands towards Myanmar coast during next 48 hrs and cross Myanmar coast between latitude 180N & 190N around Thandwe (Myanmar) during early hours of 23rd March,” the release added.
Meanwhile, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has not lowered the guards yet and advised fishermen not to venture into sea on 21st and 22nd March 2022.
Local cautionary signal III has been kept hoisted at Port Blair port.
As a precautionary measure the Andaman and Nicobar Administration had closed all schools and colleges on 19 and 21 March 2022.
