Cyclone Murasu to make landfall near at Andhra coast tonight; 120 kmph winds expected

NEW DELHI: Cyclone Murasu, which has intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm, is expected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur in the early hours of Tuesday, bringing winds of up to 120 kmph, extremely heavy rainfall and the threat of coastal flooding. The cyclone is forecast to make landfall south of Ongole between 11:30 pm on Monday and 4 am on Tuesday.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Murasu intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal in the early hours of Monday. In its Press Release issued on November 2, IMD said Cyclone Murasu was centred at 14.1°N latitude and 81.4°E longitude at 8:30 am on Monday, around 160 km east-southeast of Nellore and 180 km northeast of Chennai.The IMD has warned of strong winds and heavy rainfall across several districts of Andhra Pradesh, including Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam, Nellore, Guntur, Eluru, NTR, Palnadu and West Godavari.Chennai, Thiruvallur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu in north Tamil Nadu, along with parts of Puducherry, are also expected to experience strong winds and rainfall. Southern Odisha districts, including Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri, are also under warning. Telangana and Rayalaseema are likely to receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has reviewed cyclone preparedness and directed officials to coordinate rescue and relief operations. Six NDRF and seven SDRF teams have been deployed, while control rooms and evacuation arrangements have been put in place.The IMD has advised a complete suspension of fishing operations along the affected coastal areas. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the west-central Bay of Bengal until the afternoon of November 4 and along the Andhra Pradesh coast during the same period. The weather agency has also cautioned against the movement of motorboats and small ships due to dangerous sea conditions.Murasu is expected to weaken into a cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning, with wind speeds reducing to 70–80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph.