Cyclone Murasu makes landfall near Ongole in Andhra Pradesh coastal region
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu hit the coast between Nellore and Narsapur on Tuesday, causing heavy rain and disrupting services.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu made landfall near Ongole in Prakasam district between 3.30 am and 5.30 am on Tuesday, November 3, according to Business Today. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the landfall process commenced at 0100 hours IST. The storm brought winds of 100–110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph.
The cyclone has caused significant disruptions across the region. In Vijayawada, heavy rains delayed the start of urban local election vote counting by approximately two-and-a-half hours, ANI reported. In Guntur, the counting process has also slowed down.
In the NTR district, Collector Dr G Lakshmisha stated that counting for five local bodies was proceeding peacefully with police security in place.
Agricultural and allied activities have been hit, with salt pans and fields around Ongole suffering extensive damage. The IMD also issued a red alert for Andhra Pradesh. A storm surge of 1–1.5 metres above the astronomical tide was expected to inundate low-lying areas, with peak surges expected over Bapatla, Krishna, and Prakasam districts.
Railway operations were also affected. The South Coast Railway's Vijayawada Division temporarily suspended train movement on the Vijayawada-Ongole-Gudur section following gale-force winds at Karavadi Station. A total of 29 trains have been regulated, while others have been cancelled, diverted, or rescheduled.
The cyclone's outer rain bands also brought continuous rainfall to Puducherry and north Tamil Nadu from midnight, according to Business Today.