Cyclone Murasu approaches Andhra coast; Odisha, Tamil Nadu issue alerts

Amaravati/Bhubaneswar/Chennai: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu have stepped up precautionary measures as Cyclone Murasu intensified over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur during the night of November 2 and the early hours of November 3.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast wind speeds of 100–110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph, during landfall. The system is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm before crossing the coast.

The approaching storm has prompted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to direct officials to remain prepared for rescue and relief operations. Odisha has sounded a high alert in its southern districts, while Tamil Nadu has asked district collectors to remain vigilant in view of the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Andhra Pradesh prepares for landfall

Naidu on Sunday directed officials to ensure that adequate personnel and equipment were available for rescue and relief operations in vulnerable areas. He also asked them to prepare timelines for restoring electricity in the event of damage to power infrastructure and communicate the information to the public.

"Another cyclone is approaching Andhra Pradesh and officials must remain fully prepared to undertake relief and rescue operations, as a severe cyclonic storm is expected to cross the coast near Bapatla on the morning of November 3," said Naidu in an official press release.

Officials told the Chief Minister that the system was expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm and subsequently strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal.

Several coastal districts are likely to receive moderate to heavy rainfall on November 2, with isolated extremely heavy showers. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast in parts of the state on November 3 and 4.

Eluru, Krishna, NTR, West Godavari, Guntur and Bapatla are among the districts expected to receive significant rainfall. Preliminary estimates indicate that strong winds could damage around 15,128 electricity poles across 12 districts.

Naidu directed officials to issue cyclone situation bulletins every four hours and asked telecom operators to take precautionary measures to prevent mobile network disruptions. Recalling the disruptions during Cyclone Arnab, he stressed the need for advance preparations.

The Chief Minister also cancelled his scheduled visit to Delhi on Monday.

Odisha on high alert, 1.18 lakh affected by previous cyclone

Odisha has sounded a high alert in its southern districts, including Ganjam, which was severely affected by Cyclone Arnab that crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28.

State Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the government was prepared to tackle the approaching storm and urged people not to panic. Authorities have been directed to evacuate residents from low-lying areas and vulnerable hilly terrain before Murasu makes landfall.

Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil said the state was working on two fronts — relief and restoration for people affected by floods following Cyclone Arnab, and preparations for the approaching storm.

"Relief and restoration work is progressing on a war footing... Ganjam and Kandhamal districts have been affected the most by Cyclone Arnab and resultant floods. As many as 1.18 lakh people have been impacted by this disaster," Patil said.

He said the administration was focusing on hilly areas, where landslides have emerged as a major challenge. Odisha has reported 10 landslides due to incessant rain brought by Cyclone Arnab, with five deaths recorded in the calamity.

The state has identified around 150 landslide-prone locations in Gajapati district, and residents in these areas will be evacuated by Monday afternoon, Patil said.

Cyclone Arnab and the subsequent floods affected 75,388 hectares of crop area and damaged 1,672 houses, according to officials. More than 6,400 personnel have been deployed to accelerate power restoration in the affected areas.

Tamil Nadu collectors asked to remain vigilant

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Revenue Administration and Disaster Management Department on Sunday directed district collectors to remain on high alert following a warning from the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai about heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three days.

Authorities have been asked to follow standard operating procedures for disaster management.

On November 1, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Tiruvallur district, while Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet and the Nilgiris may receive heavy rain.

For November 2, the IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Chennai and Tiruvallur. Heavy rain is also likely in Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris.

The intensity of rainfall is expected to decrease on November 3, with heavy showers likely to be confined to isolated places in the Nilgiris.