Cyclone Asna To Move Away From Indian Coast In 24 Hours: IMD

Ahmedabad: Cyclone Asna, which formed over the coast of Kutch in Gujarat on Friday, is likely to move West-Northwest over the Northeast Arabian sea and away from the Indian Coast during the next 24 hours, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Saturday.

In a post on X, the IMD wrote earlier in the day, "It is likely to continue to move nearly west-northwestwards over northeast Arabian Sea away  from Indian coast during next 24 hours and west-southwest wards subsequently."

Further, the Met department stated that the deep depression has been moving at a speed of 14 km per hour with a latitude of 23.6° N and a longitude of 66.4°E, 250 km West of Naliya in Gujarat, 160 km South-South West of Karachi in Pakistan, and 350 km East- Southeast of Pasni in Pakistan.

"The Cyclonic Storm ASNA over northeast Arabian Sea off  Kachchh and adjoining Pakistan coasts moved westwards with a speed of 14 kmph during past  6 hours and lay centered at 2330 hours IST of 30th August, 2024 over the same region, 160 km south-southwest of Karachi (Pakistan).," the weather agency tweeted at 7.07am.

Additionally, the cyclonic storm brought heavy rains in coastal areas of the state. In view of the cyclone alert issued by weather agencies for Friday, authorities shifted over 3,500 from danger prone areas and moved them into a safer location.

Previously on Friday, IMD had predicted that Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar would receive light to moderate rains.

Meanwhile, the regions of Kachchh registered heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours, with the state receiving 882 mm of rainfall since June 1, according to the IMD scientist.

"Kachchh has received very heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours...Gujarat has received 882 mm of rainfall since June 1, which is 50% more than normal...Saurashtra and Kachchh regions have also recorded more than normal rainfall...Light to moderate rains are expected for Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar today.", Yadav said in a statement.

On Thursday, a heavy rainfall warning was issued for the areas of Jamnagar, Porbandar, Morbi, Swarka and Kutch districts.