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 midnight and Tuesday morning.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu is moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast and is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapuram between midnight on November 2 and early Tuesday, according to reports from The News Mill and Urban Acres.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated the storm is moving west-northwestwards with winds of 100-110 kmph and gusts reaching 120 kmph. The cyclone is currently located approximately 120 to 160 kilometres east-southeast of Nellore and 170 to 180 kilometres northeast of Chennai.
Flight operations have been disrupted by the weather warning. The Federal reported that over 20 flights have been cancelled across Chennai and Andhra Pradesh airports, while IndiGo cancelled ten flights from Gannavaram Airport in Vijayawada on Monday.
In Andhra Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan held a review meeting and instructed officials in Nellore, Prakasam, Markapuram, Bapatla, and Krishna districts to evacuate residents from low-lying areas. Six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and seven State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are on standby. Three NDRF teams comprising 90 personnel have been deployed from Arakkonam to assist in Nellore, Prakasam, and Markapuram, according to The Federal.
In Tamil Nadu, schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur remained closed on Monday. The Regional Meteorological Centre issued an orange alert for Chennai and Tiruvallur, warning of very heavy rainfall of 12-20 cm in 24 hours.
Odisha is also on alert, with the IMD issuing orange warnings for several districts including Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri for November 3 and 4 due to the possibility of heavy rain and strong winds.