Cyclone Murasu approaches Andhra coast as flight services are cancelled
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur by early Tuesday morning.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu intensified over the Bay of Bengal on Monday and is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole, between midnight on Monday and 4 am on Tuesday, according to the Times of India.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the storm to pack winds of 100-110 kmph with gusts reaching 120 kmph. The system was moving northwestwards and has already brought heavy rain to parts of northern Tamil Nadu and Chennai.
Flight services have been disrupted by the weather. IndiGo cancelled 10 flights from Vijayawada airport, while Air India Express cancelled two services connecting Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad to Vijayawada. In Chennai, 11 flights to Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kadapa, and Tiruchirappalli were cancelled.
Andhra Pradesh officials have begun evacuations, with Prakhar Jain, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, telling Reuters that around 2,000 people have been moved and plans are in place to evacuate 30,000 people.
In Chennai, an orange alert was issued for heavy to very heavy rainfall. Schools in the city were closed on Monday, and Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G S Sameeran stated there was no major flooding despite some waterlogging in two subways.
Odisha has also placed several districts on high alert. Disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri are likely to be affected, with over 300 rescue teams pre-positioned in the state.