Two dead as Cyclone Murasu hits Andhra Pradesh coast
The storm caused preliminary damage of Rs 344 crore and forced the evacuation of thousands in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu made landfall near Kothapatnam in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Tuesday, November 3, according to reports by The Hindu, The Indian Express and Business Today.
The storm, which crossed the coast near Ongole between 3.30 am and 5.30 am, brought wind speeds of up to 120 kmph and heavy rainfall. At least two people died in cyclone-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh, an official stated on Tuesday.
Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) Managing Director Prakhar Jain said 12,230 people were staying in rehabilitation centres. Preliminary estimates suggest damages of Rs 344 crore, including 52,459 hectares of standing crops and 312 houses.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the system weakened into a cyclonic storm by Tuesday afternoon as it moved over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The storm was located 40 km west-northwest of Bapatla and 60 km north of Ongole at the time of the update.
Authorities moved residents from low-lying areas in Bapatla and NTR districts to shelters to prevent landslide risks. This included shifting 150 elderly people and pregnant women to hospitals and primary health centres.
Educational institutions in several districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were closed. The IMD expects the system to weaken into a deep depression by midnight.