Cyclone Murasu Weakens After Causing Damage in Andhra Pradesh

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu weakened into a depression over east Telangana and adjoining coastal Andhra Pradesh on November 4 after making landfall and causing significant damage.

The storm crossed the coast between Bapatla and Prakasam districts near Ongole early on November 3 with sustained winds of 100-110 km/h and gusts to 120 km/h. At least two people died in related incidents. More than 12,000 people remained in cyclone shelters as of Wednesday.

Preliminary assessments put economic losses at around Rs 344 crore. Crops on more than 52,000 hectares were damaged, mainly in Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, and Nandyal districts. Over 300 houses and thousands of electricity poles were also affected, causing power outages in thousands of villages.

The India Meteorological Department tracked the system as it moved northwards and weakened. By early Wednesday it was centred about 30 km northwest of Nandigama. Heavy to very heavy rain was still expected at isolated places in coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Authorities cancelled or diverted trains and flights. The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission rescheduled results for several urban local body elections because of the weather. NDRF and SDRF teams were deployed for rescue and relief.

The cyclone originated as a low-pressure area over the Andaman Sea in late October and intensified into a cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal before striking the Andhra coast. It was the second cyclone to affect the state in a short period.

State Disaster Management Authority officials said 814 minor irrigation tanks were being monitored, with hundreds on high alert. Power restoration and damage surveys continued in the worst-hit districts.

The system was expected to weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area within 12 hours. Residual rain was forecast for parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on November 4 and 5.