Cyclone Asani LIVE Update! IMD Issues Heavy Rainfall Alert for Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Many Other States

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said several parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal are preparing for heavy rain as severe cyclone Asani weakened to a cyclonic storm on Wednesday, barreling towards north coastal Andhra Pradesh with wind speeds of 85 km per hour.

"It is very likely to move nearly northwards for the next few hours and then recurve slowly north-northeastwards along the Narsapur, Yanam, Kakinada, Tuni, and Visakhapatnam coasts from noon to evening on Wednesday, emerging into the west-central Bay of Bengal off the coasts of North Andhra Pradesh by night," the IMD said in a bulletin.

High alert in Andhra Pradesh:

The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a high alert in all coastal districts, while the Odisha government has issued a similar alert in five southern districts: Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, and Gajapati.

According to a bulletin from Visakhapatnam's Cyclone Warning Centre, the cyclonic storm was centered 30 kilometers east-southeast of Machilipatnam in Krishna district, 50 kilometers southwest of Narasapur district, and 120 kilometers southwest of Kakinada.

"It is traveling along the shores of Narsapur, Yanam, Kakinada, Tuni, and Visakhapatnam and is expected to weaken into a deep depression by Wednesday night and a depression by Thursday morning," according to the bulletin.

Heavy rains are expected in isolated areas in Krishna, East Godavari, Yanam, and Visakhapatnam districts, according to the CWC. In the next 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rains are expected in a few locations across Guntur, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Prakasam districts and significant rainfall in Nellore and Kadapa districts, according to the bulletin.

A mysterious gold-colored chariot washed up on the beach in Sunnapalli village in Srikakulam district on Wednesday morning, possibly due to high tides in the area. Residents who observed the chariot, which resembled a Buddhist temple, used ropes to drag it out of the water.

The event was reported to the state police intelligence department, according to a maritime police official in Naupada. "It could have come from somewhere else. There is graffiti in several languages." He stated, "We have informed the superiors."

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, told collectors in Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, and Anakapalli districts to be on high alert after reviewing the cyclone situation at a meeting. He also ordered officials to be extra cautious in coastal and low-lying areas. Several flights between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada were canceled.