Cyclone Murasu intensifies into severe storm near Andhra Pradesh coast
The system is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur with wind speeds reaching 120 kmph.
Cyclonic Storm Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal in the early hours of Monday, November 2, according to The Hindu. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the system was centred over the region at 2.30 am, approximately 260 km east-northeast of Chennai and 470 km south of Visakhapatnam.
The storm is projected to move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur. Landfall is expected between 11.30 pm on November 2 and 4 am on November 3, with sustained wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph and gusts of up to 120 kmph, Business Standard reported.
The IMD has issued a red alert for Monday in the Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore districts due to the threat of extremely heavy rainfall, according to the Deccan Chronicle. An orange alert has been issued for seven districts, including East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Palnadu, Tirupati and Chittoor.
In Rayagada, Additional District Magistrate (General) Ravindranath Kahanra stated that the administration has deployed 11 fire station teams and heavy machinery to strategic locations. Kahanra noted that the district was placed under a yellow warning for November 2, with an orange warning scheduled for November 3 and 4.
The Andhra Pradesh government has increased preparedness across the coastal and Rayalaseema regions as rainfall activity has already begun in parts of the state.