Cyclone Murasu nears Andhra Pradesh coast as Odisha begins evacuations
The severe cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narasapur by early Tuesday morning.
The severe cyclonic storm Murasu is approaching the Andhra Pradesh coast and is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narasapur between midnight on Monday and the early hours of Tuesday, November 3, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The storm is moving at 14 kmph and is currently centred 110 km from Nellore, reported The Indian Express.
The IMD stated the storm is likely to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast with wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph and gusts up to 120 kmph. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu held a review meeting on Monday, directing officials to remain alert and complete post-cyclone restoration work within 48 hours.
In Odisha, the government has begun evacuating people from vulnerable areas, including landslide-prone locations in Gajapati district, according to OTV. Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said more than 300 rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and Odisha Fire Service have been pre-positioned.
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said evacuation in identified vulnerable locations should be completed by Tuesday afternoon. He noted that extra precautions are being taken due to the risk of landslides from saturated soil.
Tamil Nadu has deployed 500 electricity department personnel and three NDRF teams to assist Andhra Pradesh, according to Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister R Nirmal Kumar. This follows a request from Chief Minister Naidu to assist in restoring power systems.