Cyclone Murasu Landfall Underway in Andhra Pradesh with High Winds and Heavy Rain

UPDATE - follow-up to Cyclone Murasu Live updates: Cyclone Murasu nears A.P. coast, heavy rain alert issued: Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu began its landfall process on the Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole, bringing sustained winds of 100 to 110 kmph with gusts up to 120 kmph.

Impact and Preparations

The storm has forced widespread flight cancellations, including 11 flights at Chennai airport and 10 IndiGo flights at Gannavaram Airport, while the Odisha government expedited evacuations from vulnerable areas. In Nellore district, Collector Himanshu Shukla urged residents not to panic buy fuel or essential goods, confirming that the district holds ample stocks of 1,710 kiloliters of petrol, 2,832 kiloliters of diesel, and thousands of LPG cylinders and ration supplies. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government launched a dedicated WhatsApp helpline through its 'Mana Mitra' platform at number 9552300009 for citizens to report emergencies like power outages and uprooted trees.

Context

Severe cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal frequently bring destructive winds and torrential rainfall to India's eastern coastline during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Authorities routinely deploy disaster response forces and establish emergency communication channels to mitigate risks to life and property in vulnerable coastal districts.