Cyclone Murasu approaches Andhra Pradesh coast as red alert issued
The storm is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur as a severe cyclonic storm on November 2 or 3.
Cyclone Murasu is heading towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, according to The Hindu, which reported on Sunday that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the storm to cross the south coast between Nellore and Narsapur between the night of November 2 and the early hours of November 3.
The IMD stated that the storm, which formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal early on Sunday, is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of November 2. Wind speeds at landfall are expected to be between 100 and 110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph.
A red alert for November 2 has been issued for the Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, and SPSR Nellore districts, where extremely heavy rain is likely. The IMD has also forecast heavy to very heavy rain over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, and Telangana on November 2 and 3.
The storm comes a week after Cyclone Arnab battered the region. Arnab killed five people and caused losses estimated by the state government at Rs 4,600 crore, including damage to 2,425 km of roads and 15,000 electric poles.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has cancelled his visit to Delhi on Monday due to the cyclone, according to the Chief Minister’s Office.