THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Due to a depression in the South-East Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep areas on Monday, many parts of the state experienced strong gusts of wind, which are set to intensify over the next 24 hours.
Further, the Met Department forecasts that the depression is "very likely to intensify" over the next 24 hours evolving into a cyclonic storm, and into a severe cyclonic storm in the subsequent 24 hours. It is likely to move northwards and reach Gujarat during the next 72 hours.
"This is going to affect the state heavily, the effects can already be seen," said Director of the Met Department Dr Krrishnamurthy V Padgalwar. "We have issued wind warnings, and warnings to fishermen to stay away from the sea," he added. The capital city and surrounding areas experienced strong winds leading to dust, twigs and leaves being carried across the roads, mildly hampering two- wheelers on Monday.
The cars parked at the ferry point on DB Bandodkar Marg also saw their wheels being submerged due to a rise in the water level.
Meanwhile, the depression, which moved North at a speed of about 15 kms/hour on Monday morning, intensified into a deep depression parallel to the coast of Goa, Padgalwar said. The depression lay about 250 kms North West of Aminidivi in Lakshadweep, 760 kms South of Mumbai and 930 kms South of Gujarat.
The Met Department has said that wind speed is likely to increase to 110-135 kms/hour over the Arabian Sea by June 13. Padgalwar also said that due to the depression, the state will witness heavy rain showers.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the South-East Arabian Sea, and Lakshadweep area, along and off the Kerala and Karnataka coast on June 11, and the East central Arabian Sea and along and off the Maharashtra Coast on June 11 and 12, North-East Arabian Sea and along and off the Gujarat Coast on June 12 and 13. Those who are out in the deep sea are advised to return to the coast. The Arabian sea is likely to be very rough over the next four days.
