Cyclone Murasu makes landfall on Andhra Pradesh coast with high-speed winds
Fishermen have been advised to stay shorebound until November 4 as heavy rains and strong winds lash the coast.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu made landfall near Kothapatnam, close to Ongole, in Andhra Pradesh after 1 am on Sunday, according to The Indian Express. The system brought extremely heavy rains and high-speed winds that touched 150 kmph.
Andhra Pradesh Meteorological Department Director K Nagaratna stated on Tuesday that the cyclone crossed the southern coastline between 03:30 IST and 05:30 IST on November 3. She noted the system moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 8 kmph. Nagaratna said gusty winds reached 100 to 110 kmph, peaking at 120 kmph at times.
Red alerts have been issued for Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, NTR, and Prakasam districts. Nagaratna advised fishermen not to venture into the sea until the morning of November 4, noting a total suspension of offshore and onshore operations. A storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above astronomical tides was projected to inundate low-lying coastal areas.
In Nellore, Prakasam, and Bapatla districts, hundreds of trees were uprooted. NTR District Collector Lakshmi Sha urged residents to remain indoors and requested shops and shopping complexes to remain closed on Tuesday. Some families in Mogalrajapuram were shifted to relief camps as a precaution against possible landslides.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a teleconference with district collectors and officials at 03:30 am to review the situation. He instructed that care must be taken to ensure people do not go onto roads until all obstructions are cleared.