Cylone Kyant To Hit Coastal AP On Diwali; High Alert Sounded 

Andhra Pradesh has been put on alert as Cyclone Kyant in Bay of Bengal is gradually moving closer to the Indian coast. The cyclonic storm is likely to spare Odisha.

According to Skymet Weather, the system is expected to make landfall over Andhra coast, somewhere between Ongole and Nellore.

The storm is presently moving in west-southwest direction in east-central Bay of Bengal and lies about 530 km east-southeast of Gopalpur, 610 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 850 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam.

As the system approaches, squally winds of 45-55 kmph speed gusting up to 65 kmph along the coastal areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh from Thursday.

Sea conditions have also become rough and authorities have advised fishermen from venturing out in the sea along and off the coast for the next 2-3 days.

On Friday, heavy to very heavy showers over parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Intensity of winds will also increase by this time, wherein damaging winds can be seen gusting up to 80 kmph.

By October 28, rain belt will cover many parts of Odisha and Coastal Andhra Pradesh as the possible cyclone will move further southwestwards. Meteorologists predict fairly widespread moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers to lash parts of coastal areas of South Odisha and adjoining North Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

However, system will not have any major impact in Odisha but light to moderate rains cannot be ruled out. But still to avoid any untoward incident, Odisha government has kept National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) on alert with rescue and evacuation plans ready.

Authorities have also issued an advisory to farmers for protecting their standing crops.