Cyclone Murasu to make landfall on November 3 in Andhra Pradesh
Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are on high alert as the cyclonic storm approaches the coast.
A cyclonic storm named Murasu is expected to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on the morning of November 3, according to reports from Mint and Hindustan Times. The system, which intensified from a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal on Sunday, is predicted to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph and gusts reaching 120 kmph.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated the storm is currently located about 260 km east-northeast of Chennai. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated across several regions, including Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Telangana, and parts of Karnataka and Kerala.
In Tamil Nadu, the Regional Meteorological Centre warned of heavy rainfall in Chennai, Tiruvallur, and the Nilgiris. Odisha has issued a high alert for its southern region, including Ganjam, while Odisha disaster management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state is prepared and has ordered evacuations from low-lying areas.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to prepare for relief and rescue operations. Preliminary estimates suggest strong winds could damage approximately 15,128 electricity poles across 12 districts.
In Nellore, District Collector Himanshu Shukla has sounded a high alert, advising fishermen not to go to sea and residents of unsafe structures to relocate. A 24-hour control room has been established at the collectorate to manage emergencies.