Naidu directs officials to effectively tackle Cyclone Murasu

A high wave crashes against rocks at the beach in Visakhapatnam on Monday as the sea turns rough under the influence of Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu. | Photo Credit: V. RAJU Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu called upon the officials to effectively tackle Cyclone Murasu, which could pose a serious threat to Andhra Pradesh.In a review meeting on cyclone preparedness with the district collectors from the RTGS (Real Time Governance Society) on Monday, Mr. Naidu said the district collectors should be alert to meet any contingency, keeping in view the likelihood of heavy rains and gales.He stated that the impact of Cyclone Murasu on the Andhra Pradesh coast was likely to be relatively limited. Forecasts indicate that wind speeds and rainfall intensity are also expected to be lower compared with Cyclone Arnab. He ordered that steps be taken to fill reservoirs, tanks and ponds through efficient water management in the south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions.Officials told the Chief Minister that heavy rains were expected in south coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, with copious inflows into the Nagarjuna Sagar and Pulichintala project catchment areas. They said the impact of Murasu could be lesser than that of Cyclone Arnab, but necessary precautionary steps were being taken.Further, Mr. Naidu directed the officials to pay special attention to the safety of 6,800 tanks across the six districts likely to be affected by Cyclone Murasu and called for the activation of Water Users’ Associations to conserve rainwater to the extent possible.The Chief Minister stated that normalcy had been restored to a large extent in areas affected by Cyclone Arnab. He recalled that precautionary arrangements had been made from Srikakulam to Bapatla to tackle Cyclone Arnab and directed officials to effectively manage the impact of Cyclone Murasu as well.Officials informed the Chief Minister that 31,000 electricity poles had been dispatched to the field from Srikakulam to Krishna district. They estimated that around 8,000 electricity poles in the south coastal and Rayalaseema districts could be affected by the winds associated with Cyclone Murasu. Another 1,000 personnel were arriving from Chennai to assist in power restoration works. The Chief Minister directed officials to deploy them across various districts, including Nellore and Prakasam.Officials informed the Chief Minister that Palnadu district was expected to receive the highest rainfall of around 30 cm, followed by Prakasam with 24 cm and Markapuram with 19 cm. Krishna and Guntur districts may receive up to 9 cm of rainfall. Eluru and Nellore are also likely to receive around 9 cm each.Mr. Naidu instructed officials to utilise the works undertaken under the Jaladhara programme and ensure that no tank breaches occur. He also directed officials to take preventive measures to avoid crop inundation due to silt accumulation in drains. The Chief Minister instructed the officials to complete post-cyclone restoration works within 48 hours, and stressed the need to expedite the payment of crop insurance compensation and input subsidies. Published - November 02, 2026 06:52 pm IST