Super cyclone 'Ashobaa' intensified into deep depression

Ahmedabad: The deep depression in the Arabian Sea has intensified into cyclonic storm "Ashobaa" and is expected to further develop into a "super cyclonic storm" in next 24-36 hours, the weather office said on Monday.

“Ashobaa”, centred over the east-central Arabian Sea, remained practically stationary for several hours about 590 km west-south-west of Mumbai. 

It is expected to move initially north-northwest and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 36 hours, said an India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin.  

Under its influence, rainfall will occur at most places, with isolated heavy showers over coastal Karnataka, Konkan and Goa, and south Gujarat during the next 24 hours.   Strong winds, with speeds reaching 70-80 kmph and gusting to 90 kmph, would prevail along and off Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra coasts over the next 24 hours, and rise to 90-100 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph, during the subsequent 24 hours.

The sea condition is expected to be very rough to high along and off Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra coasts over the next



48 hours.  

With the storm expected to move towards Oman, the Gujarat administration has heaved a sigh of relief. 

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon showed the first signs of force in Kerala on Monday, with parts of Kannur, Thrissur and Alappuzha districts recording heavy rainfall. 

The southwest monsoon had hit Kerala on June 5, six days after its originally scheduled onset. 

Weathermen had said rainfall in Kerala during the first three days was weak to moderate. 

The Met department has predicted heavy rain at many places in the State till Friday.  People living in the State’s coastal regions have commenced contingency measures to face the possible threat of rising tidal waves.

Some of the residents of coastal settlements in the Alappuzha and Thrissur districts are also reportedly preparing for the annual shifting of homes during the monsoon months.

One man died after lightning struck near his home at Harippad in Alappuzha district early on Monday.