Cyclonic Storm “Asna” forms in the Arabian Sea; Gujarat reports 32 dead, more than 32 000 evacuated

The Saurashtra-Kachchh region of Gujarat has been severely impacted by heavy rains caused by a deep depression in the Arabian Sea since August 25, which intensified into Cyclonic Storm “Asna” today. The resulting floods have claimed 32 lives and forced the evacuation of more than 32 000 people. The severe flooding has also led to the unusual sight of crocodiles taking over parts of the city of Vadodara. Asna is the second named storm of the 2024 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.

The Saurashtra-Kachchh region in Gujarat has been battered by heavy rains due to a deep depression off the Kachchh coast, which is likely to strengthen into Cyclonic Storm “Asna” on Friday, August 30, 2024.

Rain-related incidents have claimed 32 lives in the state so far. The Gujarat government reported casualties in several districts: one each in Aravalli, Dwarka, Panchmahal, Dang, Bharuch, Morbi, and Vadodara; six in Anand; five in Ahmedabad; three each in Mahisagar and Jamnagar; and two each in Gandhinagar, Kheda, Dahod, and Surendranagar.

More than 32 000 people have been evacuated, and around 1 200 have been rescued from flood-impacted regions in Gujarat. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, helicopters were used by security personnel in some instances to transport people to secure areas.

Severe flooding has also led to crocodiles leaving the river waters and spreading across the city of Vadodara, with several sightings reported across the city.

At 08:30 local time (LT) on Friday, the deep depression over Kutch and adjoining areas of Saurashtra, the northeast Arabian Sea, and Pakistan was centered over the Kachchh coast and adjoining areas of Pakistan and the northeast Arabian Sea, 160 km (99 miles) west of Bhuj, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The system was moving westwards at a speed of 8 km/h (5 mph) during the past 6 hours.

According to the advisory issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Karachi, Pakistan, at 16:26 LT (11:26 UTC), the depression intensified into Cyclonic Storm “Asna” and was centered approximately 170 km (106 miles) south-southeast of Karachi and 88 km (55 miles) south of Kati Bandar. The system is likely to keep moving west-northwestward.

Under its influence, widespread rain and wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy to very heavy and isolated extremely heavy falls are likely in Karachi division, Tharparker, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, T.M. Khan, T.A. Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu, and Shaheed Benazirabad districts until August 31.

Widespread rain and wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy to very heavy and isolated extremely heavy falls are also likely in Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Keach, and Gwadar districts from August 30 to September 1, with occasional gaps.

Sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough, with squally winds of 60 – 70 km/h (37 – 43 mph), gusting up to 80 km/h (50 mph). Fishermen in Sindh are advised not to venture into the sea until August 31, and those in Balochistan until September 1.

The IMD forecast calls for very heavy rainfall is likely over Saurashtra and Kutch on August 30 and in Vidarbha on September 1 and 2. The Gujarat region will experience heavy rains from September 2 to 4. An ‘orange alert’ has been issued for districts such as Jamnagar, Porbandar, and Dwarka for Friday.

References:

¹ Press release – IMD – August 30, 2024

² Gujarat rains: 32 dead due to heavy rainfall, IMD issues cyclone warning – BS – August 30, 2024

³ Gujarat floods: How hundreds of crocodiles have taken over Vadodara – FP – August 30, 2024

⁴ Cyclonic Storm “ASNA” Over Northeast Arabian Sea – TCWC Karachi – 11:26 UTC on August 30, 2024

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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