Cyclone Murasu nears Andhra Pradesh coast as flights are cancelled
Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapuram between Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu is approaching the Andhra Pradesh coast and is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapuram between midnight on Monday and early Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The storm is currently located approximately 160 kilometres east-southeast of Nellore and 180 kilometres northeast of Chennai, according to The News Mill.
Flight operations have been disrupted due to the weather warning. IndiGo cancelled 10 flights scheduled from Gannavaram Airport in Vijayawada on Monday, while 11 flights were cancelled at Chennai airport, Mint reported. Flight operations have also been impacted in Visakhapatnam.
In Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur districts have received torrential rains since Sunday night. Madhavaram recorded 11 cm of rainfall, while Ennore Port and Nungambakkam recorded 10 cm each, according to Mint. Authorities in Chennai have declared a holiday for schools today.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has convened a review meeting and instructed officials in Nellore, Prakasam, Markapuram, Bapatla, and Krishna districts to maintain vigilance. He directed the evacuation of residents from low-lying areas and emphasised that drinking water supplies in villages must not be disrupted, according to The News Mill.
Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), consisting of 90 personnel, have been deployed for relief and rescue work in Nellore, Prakasam, and Markapuram, Bhaskar English reported. Six NDRF and seven State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are on standby, The News Mill stated.