Cyclone Murasu Makes Landfall on Andhra Coast, Causing Two Deaths and Crop Damage

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu made landfall on the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur near Ongole during the early hours of November 3, 2026. The India Meteorological Department reported sustained winds of 100-110 kmph with gusts to 120 kmph as the system crossed the shore between roughly 3:30 and 5:30 a.m. local time.

The cyclone had moved north-northwestward at about 8 kmph in the hours before landfall. After crossing, it continued inland and began to weaken. By midday it had been downgraded toward cyclonic storm strength and was expected to become a deep depression by midnight. Doppler radars at Machilipatnam and Chennai tracked the system throughout the approach.

Authorities reported at least two deaths linked to the storm. Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority Managing Director Prakhar Jain said more than 12,000 people remained in shelters after evacuations that began the previous day. Preliminary damage estimates reached at least Rs 344 crore, with crops affected across more than 52,000 hectares. Prakasam and Bapatla districts recorded the heaviest impacts, including uprooted trees, damaged power poles, and flooded low-lying areas.

Rainfall totals were substantial. Bapatla recorded 22 cm, Narasapur 20 cm, and several other stations exceeded 15 cm in a 24-hour period. Storm surge of 1.0 to 1.5 meters above the astronomical tide inundated coastal stretches, with the highest surge expected around Bapatla, Krishna, and Prakasam. Fishing boats were damaged and standing crops submerged in multiple districts.

At least 19 domestic flights were cancelled at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati airports as the cyclone approached. Train services on the Vijayawada-Ongole-Gudur section were suspended or diverted. Schools and colleges in several districts remained closed. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu thanked the central government for prompt support and directed officials to monitor more than 800 minor irrigation tanks.

Murasu was the second cyclone to affect the Andhra coast within a week, following Cyclone Arnab. The rapid succession limited recovery time between systems. Officials had warned of the storm for several days and moved thousands of people from vulnerable coastal villages. No large-scale loss of life occurred, which authorities attributed to the advance evacuations.

The system formed over the Bay of Bengal and intensified while approaching the coast. Its compact structure produced strong winds near the center but limited the overall areal extent of the worst conditions. By the afternoon of November 3 the remnant circulation was weakening over southern Andhra Pradesh and moving toward the Telangana border.

Agricultural losses will take weeks to fully assess. Power restoration crews were already working in the hardest-hit districts. The state government is expected to seek central assistance for relief and reconstruction once detailed damage surveys are completed. The event underscores the continued vulnerability of the east coast to successive cyclones during the post-monsoon season.