Cyclone Asna Triggers Red Alert for Coastal Karnataka; Heavy Rainfall Expected in Gujarat

Bengaluru: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ for coastal Karnataka due to Cyclone Asna, which poses a rare threat. Cyclone Asna, currently forming over Gujarat’s Saurashtra-Kutch region, is expected to move into the Arabian Sea and head towards Oman. This is the first cyclonic storm to develop in the Arabian Sea in August since 1976.

Historically, only three storms have formed in the Arabian Sea in August between 1891 and 2023. The storm’s movement has been west-northwest, and it is currently about 190 kilometers west-northwest of Bhuj, Gujarat. Cyclone Asna’s wind speeds are forecasted to range between 63 and 87 kmph.

In Gujarat, recent heavy rainfall has led to 26 fatalities, the evacuation of over 18,000 people, and the rescue of approximately 1,200 individuals from flood-affected areas. Despite a decrease in rainfall, significant waterlogging continues due to overflowing rivers, with varying rainfall reported across different regions of the state.

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