A new deep depression has developed over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining Myanmar coast, days after the threat of Cyclone Arnab weakened without intensifying into a cyclonic storm.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the depression intensified into a deep depression by 11:30 am on Monday, September 28. At that time, the system was centred near latitude 16.4°N and longitude 97.3°E.
The weather system was located around 40 km west-southwest of Mawlamyine, 130 km east-southeast of Yangon and 130 km southeast of Bago in Myanmar. It was also around 610 km northeast of Mayabunder in the Andaman Islands.
The IMD said the system was moving north-northwestwards and was very likely to cross the Myanmar coast between Yangon and Kyaikto around the evening of September 28.
After crossing the coast, the system is expected to continue moving north-northwestwards across coastal Myanmar and the adjoining east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal before reaching southeastern Bangladesh over the following two days.
At present, the IMD has not indicated that the system is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm.
Cyclone Arnab threat had weakened
The latest development comes shortly after a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal triggered heavy rainfall in parts of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
The system had initially raised concerns about the possibility of Cyclone Arnab. However, it gradually weakened, and IMD officials later clarified that it was unlikely to intensify into a cyclone.
Despite the cyclone threat passing, the associated weather system caused significant disruption in several states. Odisha was among the worst affected, with heavy rain reported across several districts.
According to a government assessment cited by Hindustan Times, more than 73,000 people across 10 districts of Odisha were affected. The affected areas included 80 blocks, 325 gram panchayats, 1,071 villages and 49 wards across 10 urban local bodies.
Sixteen villages remained waterlogged, while 721 houses were reported to have suffered partial or complete damage. Around 4,480 hectares of agricultural land were also affected.
Mayurbhanj was one of the worst-hit districts, with more than 20,000 people affected across 144 villages in 20 blocks. More than one lakh people were reportedly evacuated and accommodated at over 500 relief centres.
Heavy rain also hits Uttar Pradesh
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh has also been dealing with severe weather conditions. More than 50 people were reported dead in rain- and storm-related incidents across the state since Friday, according to PTI reports cited by Hindustan Times.
The weather system over Uttar Pradesh weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area on Sunday, bringing some relief from persistent rainfall.
Rescue teams continued operations in waterlogged areas to evacuate stranded residents. Strong winds and heavy rain damaged houses, uprooted trees and electricity poles and disrupted roads and other infrastructure.
The latest deep depression over the Myanmar region will therefore be closely monitored as it moves north-northwestwards towards Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal region.
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