Amaravati: Cyclone Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal on Monday, November 2, as it moved towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the system will cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, around 11.30 pm on Monday and the early hours of Tuesday, November 3.

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According to the IMD's latest bulletin cited in the updates, the cyclone is likely to make landfall with sustained wind speeds of 100–110 kmph and gusts reaching up to 120 kmph. At 11.30 am on Monday, the storm was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal, approximately 120 km east-southeast of Nellore and 140 km from Kavali. It had moved west-northwestwards at around 14 kmph over the preceding six hours.

The weather department has also indicated the possibility of Murasu intensifying further into a very severe cyclonic storm before reaching the coast. Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected across parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha as the system advances.

Andhra Pradesh steps up preparedness

The Andhra Pradesh government has intensified its preparations ahead of the cyclone's landfall. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to remain prepared, while Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan held a review meeting with officials from the panchayat raj, rural development and rural water supply departments.

Kalyan asked officials in Nellore, Prakasam, Markapuram, Bapatla and Krishna districts to remain vigilant and arrange the evacuation of people living in low-lying areas to safer locations. His office said the state was still recovering from the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab.

The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Rayalaseema on November 2 and 3. Telangana is also likely to receive rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall forecast at some places on November 3.

Flight operations have been affected by the approaching storm. Ten IndiGo flights scheduled to operate from Vijayawada's Gannavaram Airport on Monday were cancelled. Passengers have been advised to check their flight status with the airline before travelling to the airport. IndiGo has also issued a travel advisory for operations in Visakhapatnam.

Odisha places several districts on high alert

Odisha has placed Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts on high alert. State Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said authorities were accelerating evacuation efforts in vulnerable areas.

The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds of 40–50 kmph in parts of Gajapati and Ganjam. Light to moderate rainfall is also expected in parts of Odisha over the next 24 hours.

Tamil Nadu shuts schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur

The administrations of Chennai and Tiruvallur have declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Monday in view of the rainfall forecast. The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of northern Tamil Nadu, including Tiruvallur.

Eleven flights were cancelled at Chennai airport, according to the live updates. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also deployed personnel, with the 4th Battalion leaving for Tiruvallur to assist with emergency response operations.

The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into affected parts of the Bay of Bengal and along the Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Odisha coasts during the specified warning periods.

Why Cyclone Murasu has triggered alerts across multiple states

Although the expected landfall is along the south Andhra Pradesh coast, the cyclone's effects are likely to extend beyond the immediate coastal area. Heavy rainfall, strong winds and rough sea conditions can affect neighbouring regions, including northern Tamil Nadu and parts of Odisha.

The changing forecast track has also required authorities to monitor several districts rather than focus only on the initially anticipated landfall area. Evacuations from low-lying locations, restrictions on fishing activity, deployment of disaster response teams and flight cancellations are precautionary measures intended to reduce risks to residents and travellers.

The situation is particularly significant for Andhra Pradesh because the state is still dealing with the reported impact of Cyclone Arnab. The extent of damage from Murasu will depend on its intensity at landfall, the duration of heavy rainfall and the areas directly affected.