Cyclone Murasu’s eye crosses AP coast, to weaken by noon

In the 24 hours from 8:30 am on Monday, Bapatla recorded 222.4 mm of rain, the highest reported.

Cyclone Murasu uprooted thousands of trees, damaged hundreds of electric poles and wrecked fishing boats as it crossed coastal Andhra Pradesh early on Tuesday, November 3, leaving many areas under water. The eye of the storm crossed the coast by 5:30 am, while its rear end was still making landfall, a Meteorological Department official.

Bapatla and Prakasam districts were among the worst hit, with heavy rain and gusty winds causing extensive damage to standing crops. Vehicles were stranded on national highways, and poor visibility left motorists struggling to move.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the severe cyclonic storm crossed between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 3.30 am and 5.30 am. Winds were 100 to 110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph. The landfall process had begun around 1 am.

At 8.30 am, the storm lay over south coastal Andhra Pradesh after moving north to northwestwards at 8 kmph in the previous six hours. The Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) in Visakhapatnam placed it 30 km north to northeast of Ongole, 40 km southwest of Bapatla, 90 km north to northeast of Kavali, 100 km south to southwest of Vijayawada and 120 km west to southwest of Machilipatnam.

Rainfall

In the 24 hours from 8:30 am on Monday, Bapatla recorded 222.4 mm of rain, the highest reported. Narasapur received 198.6 mm, Ongole 120.2 mm and Machilipatnam 83.9 mm.

Residents recount ordeal

Krishnamma, a fisherman from Kothapatnam in Prakasam district, said it was the most dangerous cyclone he had seen in 14 years. He said around 400 families were evacuated from his village, with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams helping people move to safer places. He is yet to find out the condition of his boats.

Mangamma, another resident, said she had lost her house in an earlier cyclone. This time, she said, the government moved her family out before landfall. But one of her three boats was destroyed. Fishing is their livelihood, she said.

What next

The IMD expects Murasu to weaken into a cyclonic storm by noon, with winds of up to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph. It is then likely to become a deep depression by midnight, with winds of up to 75 kmph. Heavy spells of rain will continue over south coastal Andhra Pradesh for the next 12 hours, the Met Department said.

Light to moderate rain is expected at most places in coastal Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, with heavy to very heavy showers at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. The IMD has also warned of a storm surge in low-lying areas, with Bapatla, Krishna and Prakasam districts most exposed.

Government response

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to stay on high alert and ensure no loss of life. In a teleconference late Monday, he said the deaths seen during Cyclone Arnab must not be repeated. Officials told him heavy rainfall was expected in 125 mandals. Naidu also asked the power department to be ready to restore supply quickly wherever poles are damaged.

Murasu had already disrupted travel before landfall. At least 19 domestic flights were cancelled on Monday across Vijayawada, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam airports.

Telangana next

IMD Hyderabad has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rain on Tuesday in Mahabubabad, Khammam and Suryapet districts. Wind speeds of 50 to 60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph, are forecast across Telangana.