Cyclone Murasu causes two deaths and crop damage in Andhra Pradesh
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu hit the south coastal region, destroying standing crops and displacing thousands of people.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu hit south coastal Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, resulting in at least two deaths and significant damage to infrastructure and agriculture, according to The Hindu.
Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) managing director Prakhar Jain confirmed that a 25-year-old man in Chinnaganjam and a 65-year-old woman in Karamchedu died after buildings collapsed on them in Bapatla district.
The storm made landfall near Ongole in Prakasam district during the early hours of Tuesday. It caused damage to 312 houses, power transmission lines, and standing crops across 52,459 hectares.
The cyclone impacted 132 mandals across 15 districts, with Krishna, Bapatla, and Nandyala being among the most affected areas. Officials reported that paddy, cotton, and corn crops suffered the most damage.
Approximately 12,230 people are currently in rehabilitation centres in Guntur, Bapatla, and Palnadu districts. The state government has set up 171 relief camps and distributed 14,810 food packets.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated the system weakened into a cyclonic storm at around 2.30 p.m. and is expected to become a deep depression by tonight. The IMD has issued flash flood warnings for the coastal belt.