IMD: Lakshadweep & Kerala to receive heavy rainfall amid Cyclone Maha

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday reported that the Severe Cyclonic storm Maha which was over the east-central Arabian Sea and adjoining the Lakshadweep area has moved north-northwestwards, with the speed of 18 kilometers in the past six hours on Friday.  In the next subsequent six hours, it will move west-northwestwards, said IMD.

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"It is very likely to intensify into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm over the east-central Arabian Sea during the next 24 hours," the IMD stated in its All India Weather Warning Bulletin. Under the influence of the above weather system, the heavy downpour is likely to batter the Lakshadweep area during the next 24 hours. 

"Heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kerala, south Tamil Nadu, and Coastal Karnataka during the next 24 hours and heavy rainfall over Rayalseema, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and South Interior Karnataka during next 24 hrs", the weather forecast agency said. 

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The weather forecast agency also mentioned about the Cyclonic storm KYARR and said that it will move towards south-southwestwards in the next few hours from the west-central Arabian Sea. "It is very likely to move southwestwards across the west-central Arabian Sea during the next 36 hours. It is very likely to weaken into a Deep Depression during the next six hours and further into a Depression during the subsequent six hours", it said. 

The IMD has also predicted that heavy rainfall is also likely over Kerala and Mahe besides Lakshadweep. The thunderstorm accompanied by lightning is very likely at isolated places over Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Konkan and Goa, parts of Maharashtra including the middle areas and Marathawada. The sea condition is very likely to be very high to phenomenal over east-central Arabian Se. "Rough to very rough over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea and very rough over the west-central Arabian Sea," the agency said. The organisation has advised fishermen not to venture into central and southeast Arabian Sea for the next couple of days.

READ | IMD: Cyclone Kyarr To Further Intensify Into A Super Cyclonic Storm

Six ships & one Aircraft deployed by ICG

The Indian Coast Guard has deployed six ships and one aircraft while disaster response teams are on kept on high alert for rescue and relief operations in case of any contingency in the wake of Cyclone Maha that has hit the Southern coastal stretch of Indian in the Arabian sea. The Indian coast guard team took to Twitter to apprise on the developments in response to cyclone Maha.

Aircraft were also deployed to asses the damage and to locate and rescue the stranded fishing boats from the sea. Additionally, eight passenger-vessels of Union Territory administration are also on standby for immediate deployment. On October 31, the Indian Coast Guard vessel rescued five fishermen who had ventured into the sea for fishing on October 28 from Chettuva Harbour in Thrissur, Kerala.

READ | ICG Rescues 19 Fishermen, 2100 Fishing Boats Amidst Cyclone Kyarr

(with ANI inputs)