Cyclone Murasu hits Andhra Pradesh: Two dead, heavy crop and power damage
Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh): At least two people lost their lives on Tuesday when severe cyclonic storm Murasu struck Andhra Pradesh, submerging standing crops across more than 52,000 hectares and damaging over 300 homes alongside key power transmission infrastructure, officials reported.
The cyclone - the second to strike the state within a single week – made landfall during the early hours of Tuesday. Downpours inundated standing crops across 15 districts, with Krishna, Bapatla and Nandyala suffering the heaviest impact.
Severe to extremely heavy rainfall lashed several locations prior to landfall. Strong winds uprooted thousands of trees and damaged 2,750 electricity poles.
High winds and heavy rain severely disrupted power transmission lines, electrical sub-stations, and primary distribution systems, particularly across Prakasam and Bapatla districts.
Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), informed PTI that two cyclone-related fatalities had been recorded in the state, with 12,230 people currently accommodated in emergency cyclone shelters.
Preliminary assessments indicate the cyclone has caused financial losses of at least ₹344 crore in the state, affecting 52,459 hectares of agricultural land, according to Jain.
A total of 312 residential structures sustained damage. Authorities are monitoring 814 minor irrigation tanks, with 776 placed on high alert status.
Several fishing vessels were wrecked off the Prakasam coast. Traffic came to a standstill on national highways as motorists struggled against poor visibility brought on by heavy downpours and strong gales.
The hazardous weather disrupted transport operations broadly, leaving commuters stranded. Transport authorities cancelled over 35 train services, diverted 14, and rescheduled eight, while several flight operations were grounded.
The Fire Department deployed 185 response teams to remove uprooted trees and pump out floodwaters. Additionally, 11 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 13 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are carrying out relief work across 132 mandals in 15 districts.
An official release stated that the government has set up 171 relief camps and distributed 14,810 food packets. As a preventive measure, 3,066 pregnant women and 1,008 nursing mothers were relocated to hospitals.
Furthermore, 725 medical teams were dispatched across 13 districts, with 362 ambulances stationed on standby to handle emergencies.
Bapatla registered an extremely heavy rainfall measurement of 22 cm. Narasapur (20 cm), Karamchedu (16 cm), Addanki (15 cm), and Bhimavaram (13 cm) also recorded heavy downpours between 8.30 am on Monday and 8.30 am on Tuesday.
Intermittent moderate to heavy showers persisted across several areas following landfall.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed gratitude to the Central Government for its “prompt support and solidarity” in managing the crisis.
Naidu confirmed that state authorities are working in tandem with central agencies to execute rescue and relief efforts.
The Chief Minister also thanked Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and the people of Karnataka for extending timely assistance.
The weather system has since weakened from a severe cyclonic storm into a cyclonic storm and is expected to downgrade further into a deep depression.
The Meteorological Department has projected heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations in coastal Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu crossed the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Narasapur, near Ongole, between 3.30 am and 5.30 am on Tuesday, carrying wind speeds of 100–110 km/h, gusting to 120 km/h.
PTI