Cyclone Murasu makes landfall along Andhra Pradesh coast
Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu brought heavy rains and strong winds to coastal districts including Nellore, Prakasam and Bapatla on Tuesday.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu made landfall near Kothapatnam, close to Ongole, in Andhra Pradesh at approximately 1 am on Tuesday, according to reports by The Indian Express, India TV and ANI.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that the storm brought sustained wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 120 kmph. The landfall occurred between Nellore and Narsapur.
Heavy rainfall caused waterlogging on major roads in Vijayawada, including Bandar Road, Polyclinic Road and areas in One Town. In other districts, hundreds of trees were uprooted in Nellore, Prakasam and Bapatla, while several low-lying areas faced inundation.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a teleconference with district collectors and officials at 03.30 am to review the situation. He directed officials to remain on high alert to ensure zero casualties and instructed that people remain indoors until obstructions are cleared.
The Chief Minister also asked staff at Swarna Grama and Swarna Ward offices to ensure cyclone warnings reach the grassroots level. He directed electricity department personnel to remain alert to ensure prompt power restoration if needed.
The IMD has forecast a storm surge of 1.0-1.5 metres above the astronomical tide, which may inundate low-lying areas of the south coast until the morning of November 3. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue along the south coast for the next 12 hours.