Cyclone Murasu Strikes Andhra Pradesh Coast with Winds Up to 120 km/h
Cyclone Murasu has made landfall in Andhra Pradesh, bringing severe winds and heavy rainfall, prompting alerts across several districts.
Andhra Pradesh, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : Cyclone Murasu made landfall early Tuesday along the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh, with winds reaching speeds of 120 kilometers per hour. The storm hit the coastline between Nellore and Narasapur near Ongole around 3:30 AM to 5:30 AM, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD reported that the cyclone is currently undergoing the landfall process. A significant portion of the storm’s “wall cloud,” which encircles the cyclone’s center, has descended to the ground, indicating that the eye of the storm is entering the coast. The cyclone is situated in the western-central part of the Bay of Bengal, posing threats to the coastal region.
Continuous monitoring of Cyclone Murasu is being conducted via Doppler weather radar from Chennai and Machilipatnam.
Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), indicated that heavy rainfall is expected in several districts following the cyclone’s landfall. Areas such as West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, and Guntur are likely to experience significant rainfall. Additional districts, including Bapatla, Palnadu, Markapuram, Prakasam, and Nellore, may also see heavy rain in certain locations. Residents are advised to remain alert and cautious.
G.S. Sameeran, Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation, stated that preparations have been underway for the past two days to mitigate the impacts of Cyclone Murasu. He noted that the storm has intensified into a “severe cyclonic storm.”
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a teleconference late Monday night with officials to discuss the cyclone’s potential impact. He instructed local administrations in affected districts to remain on high alert. Earlier in the day, Naidu reviewed preparations to tackle the cyclone’s effects, discussing ground-level readiness with officials from the Real Time Governance Society and district collectors. He emphasized the need to effectively manage the aftermath of Cyclone Remal, which had already caused disruptions in several areas. The cyclone’s strong winds are expected to affect around 8,000 electricity poles in the South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
