IMD Issues Signal 3 Port Warning in Andhra Pradesh Amid Heavy Rainfall

The India Meteorological Department has issued a Signal 3 port warning at Kalingapatnam, Visakhapatnam, and Kakinada ports in Andhra Pradesh due to a depression over the Bay of Bengal. Several regions, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, are experiencing heavy rainfall, causing disruptions such as landslides and waterlogging.

The India Meteorological Department on Friday issued a Signal 3 port warning for Kalingapatnam, Visakhapatnam, and Kakinada ports in Andhra Pradesh due to low-pressure over the Bay of Bengal. IMD employs a signal system ranging from 1 to 11, hoisted at ports to alert vessels of potential cyclonic storms.

Signal 3 indicates a formed depression that could impact the port with expected surface winds of 22-27 knots (40-50 kmph). According to the warning, the port might experience squalls. 'The well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, off Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts, has intensified into a depression today,' stated Srinuvas, MD, Visakhapatnam cyclone warning centre. 'It lies approximately 70 km southeast of Puri (Odisha), 130 km east of Gopalpur (Odisha), 130 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), and 240 km east-northeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).'

'It is projected to move northwestwards, crossing the Odisha coast near Puri as a depression early tomorrow morning, July 20. Subsequently, it will proceed west-northwestwards across Odisha & Chhattisgarh, weakening gradually within the next 24 hours,' he added. Heavy rainfall hit various parts of Andhra Pradesh on Friday, prompting Alluri Seetharamaraju district's collector Dinesh Kumar to declare a holiday for all educational institutions.

Tamil Nadu and Kerala also faced heavy rains. With continuous rainfall and landslides reported in Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu, the district administrator announced school holidays. District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneru declared holidays for schools in Ooty, Gudalur, Kundha, and Pandalu due to the past five days' heavy rain. She also extended the holiday to four other taluks: Udkai, Kunta, Kudalur, and Bandalur.

The Nilgiris have been dealing with five days of intense rain, leading to landslides and fallen trees, disrupting traffic. Authorities are working to clear the roads and restore traffic flow. Heavy rain has similarly affected Kerala's Kottayam district, submerging roads and homes in western regions like Thiruvarppu, Illikkal, and Pathinarilchira. Parts of Karnataka's Mangaluru city also experienced heavy rainfall.

The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for very heavy rainfall in isolated regions of Kerala today. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)