Andhra Pradesh CM reviews preparedness for Cyclone Murusu
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu cancelled his Delhi visit to monitor cyclone readiness and water management.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reviewed cyclone preparedness with senior officials and district collectors at the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) Centre in Amaravati on Monday, according to ANI. The Chief Minister directed the administration to stay vigilant as moderate to heavy rainfall is predicted for the Rayalaseema and South Coastal Andhra districts.
The Chief Minister cancelled his scheduled visit to Delhi on Monday due to the cyclone threat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an alert for the Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu coasts after a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclone Murusu.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that the cyclone is expected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur between the midnight of November 2 and the early morning of November 3. Wind speeds are projected to reach 100 to 110 kmph, with gusts up to 120 kmph.
Palnadu is expected to see the highest rainfall at approximately 30 cm, while Prakasam may receive 24 cm. Markapuram is projected to receive 19 cm, and Krishna, Guntur, Eluru, and Nellore are expected to receive around 9 cm each.
To manage the impact, the Chief Minister instructed officials to use the rainfall to fill reservoirs and tanks in Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasam, Nellore, and Markapuram. He also ordered that post-cyclone restoration work be finished within 48 hours.
Regarding infrastructure, officials stated that 31,000 electricity poles have been sent from Srikakulam to Krishna district. They estimated that winds could affect 8,000 poles in the South Coastal and Rayalaseema regions, while another 1,000 personnel are travelling from Chennai to assist with power restoration.