Heavy rain is expected to pound Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha due to cyclonic storm ‘Roanu’, which has intensified into a “severe cyclonic storm” since Thursday night, the India Meteorological Department said.
Issuing alerts to the three states, the MeT said that although the cyclone will make a landfall in Bangladesh on the intervening night of May 21 and 22 “heavy to very heavy rainfall” is expected in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha.
“The system is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday night. Continuing moving northeastwards, the system is likely to cross south Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Cox’s Bazar on May 21 and 22 as a cyclonic storm,” Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD said.
“Few places are expected to receive more rainfall. Coastal Andhra Pradesh may receive heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours. Moderate rainfall may take place at a few places within 24 hours.
“Coastal areas of Odisha may also receive rainfall in the next 24 hours. Few other places including Telangana and Rayalaseema may receive rainfall on May 20 and 21,” the CWD added.
“The condition of sea is likely to be rough along and off Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha coasts in the next 48 hours and off North Tamil Nadu coast in the next 24 hours.
“Sea along coast off West Bengal is also likely to be rough on May 20 and 21. Storm surge of about 0.5 to 1.0 metre is likely along Andhra Pradesh coast in the next 24 hours,” the CWD added.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed four teams, comprising over 130 personnel, in Andhra Pradesh in order to counter the aftermath of the cyclonic storm ‘Roanu’.
A senior official said the teams were equipped with life saving equipment.