Severe cyclonic storm Murasu likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast
The storm is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Ongole with wind speeds of up to 110 kmph.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole, between midnight on November 2 and the early hours of November 3, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The system is moving northwestwards at a speed of 20 kmph, according to reports from Telangana Today and The Hawk.
The storm is expected to bring gale winds of 100 to 110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph. District transport commissioner B. Chandrasekhar stated that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely for 24 hours after the system crosses the coast.
He advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and urged those travelling between Nellore and Hyderabad to postpone their journeys.
APSDMA Managing Director and CEO Prakhar Jain said heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions on Monday and Tuesday. Extremely heavy rainfall is expected in one or two locations, with very heavy rainfall likely in districts including Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, NTR, Palnadu, Tirupati, and Chittoor.
To prepare for relief and rescue operations, six teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and seven teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has requested assistance from the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to provide personnel and machinery for electricity infrastructure restoration works.
The Andhra Pradesh government has also kept electricity department personnel ready for deployment in areas likely to be affected by the cyclone.