Cyclone Murasu Kills Two and Damages Crops Across Andhra Pradesh

Cyclone Murasu made landfall near Ongole in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district in the early hours of November 3, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph. At least two people died in related incidents, and preliminary damage estimates reached Rs 344 crore.

The India Meteorological Department tracked the system as it crossed the south Andhra coast between Nellore and Narsapur. The landfall process began around 1 a.m. local time. By afternoon the storm had weakened into a cyclonic storm and continued moving north-northwest at roughly 7 kmph. At 2:30 p.m. it was centered about 40 km west-northwest of Bapatla.

Heavy rain flooded standing crops across 52,459 hectares in 15 districts. Krishna, Bapatla, and Nandyal reported the heaviest losses. Paddy, cotton, and maize suffered the greatest damage. Officials counted 312 houses damaged and 2,750 electricity poles down. Power transmission lines and substations were also hit, particularly in Prakasam and Bapatla districts. Thousands of trees were uprooted, blocking roads.

Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority Managing Director Prakhar Jain said 12,230 people remained in relief camps as of November 3. Authorities had evacuated residents from low-lying coastal areas before the storm arrived. The state released Rs 37 crore in immediate relief funds to 17 districts. National and State Disaster Response Force teams cleared debris and restored basic services.

Nineteen domestic flights were cancelled at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati airports as the cyclone approached. Schools and colleges closed in several districts. A storm surge of 1-1.5 metres above the astronomical tide inundated low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh for several hours after landfall.

The system was the second cyclone to affect the region within a week. After crossing the coast it weakened further into a deep depression by the evening of November 3 as it moved toward the Telangana border. The IMD continued to issue rainfall warnings for districts in Andhra Pradesh, southern Odisha, and parts of Telangana.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu monitored the situation and coordinated with central agencies. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with the chief minister and assured central assistance. Recovery work focused on restoring power, clearing roads, and assessing crop losses so that compensation could reach affected farmers.

Coastal communities reported extensive damage to fishing boats and nets. Farmers in the worst-hit mandals faced submerged fields and delayed harvesting. Officials expected the full damage assessment to take several more days as teams reached remote areas.