Cyclone Murasu Intensifies, Landfall Expected Near Ongole Early Tuesday

Cyclonic storm Murasu has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is forecast to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur near Ongole during the midnight of November 2 to early hours of November 3, the India Meteorological Department said.

At 2.30 am IST on November 2 the system lay centred near latitude 13.6°N and longitude 82.5°E, about 260 km east-northeast of Chennai, 290 km east-southeast of Nellore and 330 km southeast of Ongole. It moved northwest at 20 kmph in the preceding six hours.

IMD expects sustained winds of 100 to 110 kmph with gusts to 120 kmph at landfall. Storm surge of 1.0 to 1.5 metres above astronomical tide is likely to inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, with peak surge expected over Bapatla, Krishna and Prakasam districts.

Andhra Pradesh has deployed six National Disaster Response Force teams and seven State Disaster Response Force teams in districts likely to be affected. Two teams each are stationed in Krishna, Bapatla, Guntur, Nellore and Prakasam. Additional teams remain on standby.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to stay fully prepared for relief and rescue operations. Officials briefed him that the storm is likely to cross near Bapatla on the morning of November 3.

Schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu closed on November 2 because of heavy rain. An orange alert covers six Telangana districts and a yellow alert five more for Monday. Five Andhra districts including SPSR Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Bapatla and Krishna are on red alert for November 2 with isolated extremely heavy rain expected.

The system is the second cyclonic storm to approach the Andhra coast in less than a week. Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab crossed the coast earlier. Murasu, named by India and meaning war drum, formed from a deep depression that intensified over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.

IMD has advised complete suspension of shipping and fishing operations off the Andhra Pradesh coast and southwest Bay of Bengal until the afternoon of November 3. Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is expected at one or two locations in Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, Markapuram and Nellore on Monday. South Odisha is also likely to receive heavy rain on November 3 and 4.

Authorities have identified 20 mandals that could see extremely heavy rainfall, including nine in Eluru district. Damage is expected to a large number of electricity poles across 12 districts. The State Disaster Management Authority has projected average district rainfall of about 179 mm in Eluru, 163 mm in Krishna and 161 mm in NTR on Tuesday.

Residents along the coast are bracing for the second system so soon after Arnab. Evacuation and relief preparations continue as the storm tracks northwest toward the coast. The IMD continues to monitor the system and issue updates on intensity and track.

Further intensification is possible before landfall. Coastal communities and port authorities have been placed on alert. The precise landfall point and peak wind speeds will determine the scale of impact on infrastructure and agriculture already recovering from the previous cyclone.