Cyclone Murasu makes landfall near Ongole bringing heavy rain and winds
The severe cyclonic storm caused damage to property and disrupted transport across coastal Andhra Pradesh after crossing the coast on Tuesday.
Cyclone Murasu made landfall between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole in Prakasam district, between 3.30 am and 5.30 am on Tuesday, according to The New Indian Express. The system brought sustained wind speeds of 100-110 kmph with gusts reaching 120 kmph.
The storm caused significant damage across coastal Andhra Pradesh, uprooting trees, breaking hundreds of electric poles, and wrecking fishing boats. Low-lying areas faced inundation, and heavy rain reduced visibility on national highways, leaving vehicles stranded and disrupting road transport.
In Prakasam district, Kothapatnam recorded 16.4 cm of rainfall between Monday morning and Tuesday morning, while Naguluppalapadu recorded 11.4 cm. Chirala in Bapatla district saw 10 cm of rain during the same period.
Fisherman Krishnamma from Kothapatnam stated that the government and NDRF teams helped evacuate around 400 families from his village. Another resident, Mangamma, noted that while her family was evacuated, one of her three boats was destroyed.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to remain on high alert to prevent loss of life. He instructed staff to ensure cyclone information reaches people at the grassroots level and to prepare for the immediate restoration of power if poles are damaged.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the system to weaken into a deep depression by midnight on Tuesday. The IMD has also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations across Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on Wednesday.