IMD issues cyclone warnings to Andaman and Nicobar Islands

New Delhi/Port Blair: With depression over north Andaman Sea is gathering momentum, threatening to landfall a cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday invoked the yellow code warning for Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Parts of the islands saw heavy rains just as reports warned of the cyclonic storm Asani likely to landfall on Monday.

Alongside moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfalls at several places across the islands, wind speed picked up damaging infrastructure with electric lines being snapped as well as uprooting trees.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from the coastal areas as shores are likely to be inundated.

As a precaution, authorities have declared a holiday on Monday for all schools. While warning fishermen against venturing into the sea, National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) teams shepherded fishermen to safer areas.

The IMD's evening bulletin on Sunday described the depression, beginning over Southeast Bay of Bengal and south Andaman Sea, as moving over to north Andaman Sea and adjoining Bay of Bengal reaching north-northeast of Nicobar Islands and Port Blair.

The depression could move northwards before intensifying into a deep depression in next 12 hours, according to the bulletin on Sunday. IMD predicted light to moderate to rainfall at most places while heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over the islands.

There can be localised landslides and mudslides alongside crop loss in some areas