Severe Cyclone Murasu Moves Closer to Andhra Coast Prompting Evacuations and Flight Cancellations

UPDATE - follow-up to Cyclone Murasu LIVE updates: Odisha expedites evacuation from vulnerable areas as storm intensifies: The Odisha government sped up moving people from at-risk areas on Monday as Murasu grew into a severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal.

Flight and School Closures

Eleven flights arriving and leaving Chennai airport and ten IndiGo flights from Gannavaram Airport were cancelled on Monday. Schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts stayed shut due to heavy rain. The India Meteorological Department stated the system is moving northwest to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole with wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.

Landfall and Regional Impact

The storm formed from a deep depression on Sunday, with its name meaning war drum after being suggested by the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai. Landfall is expected between the evening of Monday and early Wednesday between Nellore and Narsapur. Heavy rain hit Konaseema in Andhra Pradesh, flooding homes and troubling elderly residents, while farmers are still recovering from damage caused by Cyclone Arnab. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal face heavy rain, and Telangana has orange and red alerts across multiple districts.

Inter-State Aid and Rescues

Tamil Nadu Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu called Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay for support. Tamil Nadu sent 25 teams with gear to help with power restoration across 14 identified districts. Fisheries Department officials also rescued seven fishermen whose boat got stuck in rough seas near Juvvaladinne village in SPSR Nellore district.

Context

Tropical cyclones frequently form in the Bay of Bengal during the post-monsoon season, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall to India's eastern coastline. State disaster management authorities coordinate multi-agency responses involving meteorological tracking, evacuations, and power restoration teams to minimize loss of life and property.