Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu was centred about 160 km east-southeast of Nellore and 180 km north-east of Chennai at 8.30 a.m. IST on Monday (November 02), moving west-northwestwards at 22 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. It is very likely to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 11:30 p.m. Monday and 4 a.m. Tuesday, with sustained winds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.
Schools and colleges are shut in Chennai, Tiruvallur and several Andhra Pradesh districts, flights have been cancelled at Chennai airport, and disaster response teams have been deployed across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha. Murasu is the second cyclonic storm to threaten the Andhra coast in under a week, after Cyclone Arnab.
A total of eleven flights arriving at and departing from Chennai airport were cancelled on Monday due to Cyclone Murasu, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a statement. Flights to and from Vijayawada, Kadapa, Rajahmundry and Tiruchi are among those affected. Passengers have been asked to contact their airlines for updates, according to media reports.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu lay over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 8:30 a.m. IST on Monday, about 160 km east-southeast of Nellore and 180 km north-east of Chennai, moving west-northwestwards at 22 kmph.
It is very likely to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast, between Nellore and Narsapur and south of Ongole, between 11:30 p.m. Monday and 4 a.m. Tuesday, with winds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.
Northern Tamil Nadu received heavy rain, and several places in Chennai were inundated, as Cyclone Murasu lay about 250-260 km from the city, heading for landfall over south coastal Andhra Pradesh. Chennai, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur have had torrential rain since Sunday night, with Madhavaram recording 11 cm, and Ennore Port and Nungambakkam 10 cm each over 24 hours, according to the Chennai Corporation's Integrated Command and Control Centre.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for Chennai.
As Cyclone Murasu moves towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, the State has deployed six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and seven State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams in districts likely to be affected, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) said. Two teams each have been stationed in Krishna, Bapatla, Guntur, Nellore and Prakasam districts, and one team each in Markapuram, Palnadu and Tirupati, with more teams available if required.
Separately, NDRF said three teams of its 4th battalion, stationed at Nagarikuppam near Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu's Ranipet district, have been dispatched to Andhra Pradesh for rescue and relief operations.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu cancelled a scheduled visit to Delhi on Monday and directed officials to remain fully prepared for Cyclone Murasu, officials said. Naidu held a review meeting on cyclone preparedness and on relief and restoration operations after Cyclone Arnab.
Officials told the Chief Minister that between 6,000 and 8,000 or more electricity poles could be damaged across several districts. Naidu directed the Energy Department to mobilise personnel and machinery in advance and restore power within 48 hours of any damage. Twenty mandals, including nine in Eluru district, have been flagged for extremely heavy rainfall on November 3 and 4.
Chennai and Tiruvallur District Collectors announced that schools and colleges in the districts will remain closed on Monday due to heavy rain. NTR and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh have also declared holidays for schools and colleges.
An orange alert has been issued in six Telangana districts and a yellow alert in five districts for Monday, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall expected in Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, Markapuram and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Residents of Vijayawada can report cyclone-related problems through the Mana Mitra WhatsApp Governance service at 95523 00009. For emergency assistance, they can also contact the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority's toll-free numbers 112, 1070 and 1800 425 0101.
The Odisha government has declared a high alert in its southern districts over the possible impact of Cyclone Murasu, with evacuation ordered in parts of Ganjam district. Heavy rain and winds of up to 70 kmph are forecast for Ganjam on November 3 and 4. The State is reviewing preparedness days after Cyclone Arnab, whose toll has risen to six.