Severe cyclonic storm Murasu to hit Andhra Pradesh coast
Three NDRF teams have been deployed from Chennai to assist with rescue and relief operations in Andhra Pradesh.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narasapur during the intervening night of November 2 and the early morning of November 3, according to the Meteorological Department (IMD). The storm is predicted to make landfall with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph, reported by BusinessLine and Deccan Chronicle.
Three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, comprising 90 personnel in total, have been deployed from the 4th Battalion near Arakkonam to support disaster management in Andhra Pradesh. These teams, which consist of 30 personnel each, are headed to the Nellore, Prakasam, and Markapuram regions to carry out emergency rescue, clear debris, and provide relief, according to reports from Deccan Chronicle and Deccan Herald.
The storm was reported to be moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 14 kmph. It was positioned over the Bay of Bengal, approximately 120 km east-southeast of Nellore, 140 km east-southeast of Kavali, 170 km northeast of Chennai, 180 km southeast of Ongole, and 220 km south of Machilipatnam.
In response to the cyclone, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced that the state will deploy 500 skilled powermen and necessary equipment to Andhra Pradesh to help restore power infrastructure. Shivakumar stated that Andhra Pradesh has sought assistance following the uprooting of over 15,000 electricity poles by Cyclone Arnab.
At least 19 domestic flights were cancelled on Monday across the Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam airports in Andhra Pradesh. Vijayawada Airport director M Lakshmi Kantha Reddy said IndiGo cancelled 10 flights and Air India Express cancelled two, while Visakhapatnam Airport cancelled four flights, according to BusinessLine.