Cyclone Murasu hits Andhra Pradesh coast with high winds and rain
Fishermen have been advised to stay ashore until November 4 as the severe cyclonic storm makes landfall near Ongole.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu crossed the southern Andhra Pradesh coastline between 03:30 AM and 05:30 AM on Tuesday, according to ANI. The system, which formed over the Bay of Bengal, moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 8 kmph.
Andhra Pradesh Meteorological Department (IMD) Director K Nagaratna stated that the storm brought gusty winds of 100 to 110 kmph, occasionally peaking at 120 kmph. The landfall occurred near Ongole, between Nellore and Narsapur.
Red alerts have been issued for several districts, including Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, NTR, and Prakasam. Nagaratna advised fishermen not to venture into the sea until the morning of November 4, noting a total suspension of offshore and onshore operations.
The storm is expected to cause a storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above astronomical tides, potentially inundating low-lying areas. The highest surge is projected for the Bapatla region between the Krishna and Prakasam districts.
According to Business Standard, the weather has caused disruptions at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Tirupati airports. In response to the storm, District Collectors in Bapatla, Palnadu, NTR, Nellore, and Gudur have mandated the closure of all schools and colleges.
NTR District Collector Lakshmi Sha urged residents to stay indoors and requested shops to remain closed on Tuesday. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan have held emergency meetings to coordinate the response.