No Loss of Life Reported in Andhra Pradesh After Severe Cyclone Murasu Makes Landfall

UPDATE - follow-up to Cyclone Murasu LIVE updates: Eye of cyclone crosses Andhra Pradesh coast: The eye of severe cyclonic storm Murasu crossed the coast at 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with no loss of life recorded so far in Andhra Pradesh according to the National Disaster Response Force. The federal contingency force deployed 14 teams in the coastal State. Mohsen Shahedi, DIG of the NDRF, shared the update during a press briefing.

Landfall And Impact

The storm moved north to northwestwards at a speed of 8 kmph and lay centred near Ongole at 8.30 a.m. The weather system brought torrential rain and gale-force winds up to 100 kmph, severely disrupting normal life. Several thatched houses collapsed, and residents were stranded at Samatha Nagar in Ongole, where district authorities initiated rescue operations. A statue of Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu in the Prakasam district Collectorate premises collapsed after a large tree fell on it. Naguluppalapadu mandal recorded the highest rainfall of 198 mm, while Kothapatnam recorded 182.3 mm and Ongole Urban logged 174.7 mm.

Relief And Transport

A total of 10,805 people are currently staying in relief centers. The cyclone is expected to damage 30,661 hectares of paddy crop, 21,474 hectares of cotton, and 605 hectares of maize. To assist citizens, the Real Time Governance Society launched a WhatsApp grievance platform at number 9552300009. Meanwhile, the Vijayawada Division of South Coast Railway suspended train movements on the Vijayawada-Ongole-Gudur section until further notice. Three districts in neighbouring Telangana, including Suryapet, Khammam, and Bhadradri Kothagudem, were placed under a red alert for extremely heavy rain.

Context

Severe cyclonic storms originating over the Bay of Bengal regularly impact India's eastern coastline during the post-monsoon season, bringing intense gales and heavy downpours. Emergency agencies like the NDRF and state disaster management bodies are routinely deployed ahead of landfall to execute evacuations and minimize casualties. Subsequent relief and restoration work typically focus on clearing uprooted trees, restoring snapped power lines, and assessing agricultural damage.