Andhra Pradesh on high alert as Cyclone Murasu nears coast
Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has ordered officials to prepare for landfall as the cyclone approaches the Nellore region.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has directed officials to remain on high alert as Cyclone Murasu approaches the coast, according to The Hindu. The directive comes as the state is still recovering from damage caused by cyclone Arnab.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the severe cyclonic storm to cross the coast between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole, between late November 2 and the early hours of November 3. The storm was centred about 290 km east-southeast of Nellore at 2.30am on November 2 and is moving northwestwards at 20 kmph.
Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla has warned of gale winds reaching speeds of up to 120 kmph. The cyclone is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall, with the impact likely to continue until Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. Kalyan has stressed the need to evacuate people from low-lying areas to prevent loss of life. Officials have placed six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and seven State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams on standby.
The collector has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea and urged residents of unsafe structures to relocate. A 24-hour control room has been established at the collectorate to manage emergencies.