Cyclone ‘Maha’ To Cross Lakshadweep Islands In Next 24 Hours

Two cyclonic storms are brewing together in the Arabian Sea in a rare occurrence and one of them likely to batter the Lakshadweep archipelago in the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.

IMD Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra said the deep depression in the Arabian Sea intensified into cyclonic storm 'Maha' on Wednesday evening.

'Kyarr' had turned into a super cyclone on Tuesday, another rare occasion for the western sea front of India. On Wednesday, it weakened into a 'severe cyclonic storm' while the deep depression intensified into cyclonic storm 'Maha'.

Super cyclones are usually reported in the Bay of Bengal.

Mohapatra said it is a rare occurrence to have two storms in the Arabian Sea at the same time.

"It (Maha) will cross the Lakshadweep islands in the next 24 hours," he told PTI.

By Nov. 2, it is also expected to intensify into a "very severe cyclonic storm", the Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD said.

It has given a forecast of light to moderate rainfall at most places, with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Kerala, Lakshadweep, coastal Karnataka and south Tamil Nadu during next two days.

"Extremely heavy falls at isolated places are likely over Lakshadweep Islands and heavy to very heavy falls at isolated place over Kerala during next 48 hours. Heavy to very heavy falls at isolated place are also likely over Tamil Nadu on Oct. 30 and over coastal Karnataka on Oct. 31," it said.

It has also issued a warning to fishermen to suspend fishing operations over Comorin-Maldives and Lakshadweep area and along and off Kerala-Karnataka coasts during next 48 hours.

"The fishermen are advised not to venture into southeast Arabian Sea till Oct. 31 and over east-central Arabian Sea till Nov. 4," it added.