The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that cyclonic storm Kyarr has intensified overnight in the Arabian Sea and predicted heavy rainfall in Goa and coastal Karnataka. The Goa government has issued a red alert as ‘severe cyclonic storm Kyarr has intensified into very severe cyclonic storm.

IMD in a tweet said that severe cyclonic storm  Kyarr might turn into extremely severe cyclonic storm. It said, “Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Kyarr’ intensified into Very Severe Cyclonic Storm over eastcentral Arabian Sea. To move west-northwestwards towards Oman coast during next 5 days. Very likely to further intensify into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours.”

Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Kyarr’ intensified into Very Severe Cyclonic Storm over eastcentral Arabian Sea. To move west-northwestwards towards Oman coast during next 5 days. Very likely to further intensify into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/G6pJFUJdZW

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— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) October 26, 2019

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said  that the disaster management teams in the state are on standby for facing all eventualities. The state’s Fisheries Department has also directed fishermen not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours. In view of the alert, the Goa University has cancelled all examinations which were scheduled to be held on Friday and Saturday to a later date.

According to the IMD, light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy rain at isolated places over Karnataka, Goa and south Konkan and strong winds are likely to accompany rain.

In Karnataka, the districts of Dharwad, Belagavi, and Uttara Kannada received moderate to heavy rain during the day and atleast five people died in incidents related to the storm, according to The Hindu.

On Saturday, the New Mangaluru Port Trust said it had rescued around 100 fishing boats and more than 1,000 people, and provided shelter in the harbour’s safe zone, along the west coast of India, news agency ANI quoted as saying.

The MET department earlier said that, severe cyclonic storm ‘KYARR’ over Arabian Sea moved WNW-wards with speed of 04 Kmph during past 06 hrs and lay centred at 2330 IST 25.10,19 near latitude of 16.4°N and longitude of 71.5°E over EC Arabian Sea, about 200 km west of Ratnagiri (Maharashtra).

SCS ‘KYARR’ over EC Arabian Sea moved WNW-wards with speed of 04 Kmph during past 06 hrs & lay centred at 2330 IST 25.10,19 near lat 16.4°N and long 71.5°E over EC Arabian Sea, about 200 km west of Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) pic.twitter.com/ZfwvfECH7W

— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) October 25, 2019