Cyclone Murasu to bring heavy rain in Karnataka and Maharashtra
The India Meteorological Department has issued weather alerts for several districts across Karnataka and Maharashtra as the cyclone approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast.
Cyclone Murasu is expected to bring heavy rains to south interior Karnataka, including Bengaluru, parts of Malnad and coastal districts until November 6, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A yellow alert has been declared for Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Bengaluru districts, Deccan Herald reported.
In Maharashtra, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for six districts until December 4, including Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Washim and Yavatmal, according to Urban Acres. Heavy rain was recorded in parts of Pune district, with Indapur receiving the highest rainfall in the state at 131 mm during a 24-hour period.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Ongole and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh on the intervening night of November 2-3, The Hindu reported. The IMD stated the storm is likely to move with wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph between Nellore and Narasapur.
The Andhra Pradesh government has sounded an alert in five districts: Bapatla, Palnadu, Markapuram, SPSR Nellore, and Prakasam. The IMD issued a red alert for Palnadu, Tirupati, and Nandyal districts on Tuesday, while an orange alert is in place for 12 districts.
In Karnataka, a lightning strike in Manvi taluk of Raichur district on Monday killed a 55-year-old farmer and injured three others. Senior scientist C S Patil of the IMD said the cyclone-triggered rain will reduce the rainfall deficit in the state.