Cyclone Asna: Red alert issued in Karnataka, heavy rain expected in Gujarat, says IMD

Cyclone Asna, developing over Gujarat's Saurashtra-Kutch region, is unusual for this time of year. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'red alert' for coastal Karnataka due to the cyclone's threat, with very heavy rain expected in Gujarat on Saturday, August 31. The cyclone is projected to move into the Arabian Sea and head towards Oman. Cyclone Asna is the first storm in the Arabian Sea in August since 1976, and only the fourth such storm since 1891.

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Heavy rainfall and rescue operations in Gujarat

In the past few days, heavy rain has caused significant damage in Gujarat, resulting in the loss of 26 lives and the evacuation of over 18,000 people. The cyclone intensified after forming over the Kachchh coast and parts of Pakistan, moving westward at 6 km/h. Although the rain has lessened in most areas, waterlogging and flooding have severely impacted several towns and villages. The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) reported only light showers in some areas by Friday morning, but the threat from Cyclone Asna remains significant.