Cyclone Murasu Crosses Andhra Pradesh Coast Bringing Heavy Rains and Strong Winds

UPDATE - follow-up to Cyclone Murasu LIVE updates: No loss of life in Andhra Pradesh due to Cyclone Murasu, says NDRF: Severe cyclonic storm Murasu crossed the South Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole, with its rear end making landfall after the eye crossed at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday. According to the India Meteorological Department and Cyclone Warning Centre, the system moved north-northwestwards at 8 kmph and was located 30 km north-northeast of Ongole and 40 km southwest of Bapatla. Packing wind speeds up to 100 to 110 kmph with gusts reaching 120 kmph, the storm battered the region with torrential rains, uprooting thousands of trees, damaging electric poles, wrecking fishing boats, and destroying standing crops across 15 districts.

Relief and Rescue

The National Disaster Response Force deployed 14 teams in the state, with DIG Mohsen Shahedi stating that no casualties have been recorded. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the Centre's prompt support, while state machinery coordinated with central and SDRF teams for rescue and road-clearing operations. In Ongole's Prakasam district, thatched houses collapsed in Samatha Nagar, and a falling tree damaged the statue of Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu in the Collectorate premises. The Real Time Governance Society launched a WhatsApp grievance reporting platform at number 9552300009 for residents to report emergencies like power outages and uprooted trees.

Rainfall and Flooding

Rainfall hit hard across several districts, with Konanki in Martur mandal of Bapatla recording the state's highest at 182.25 mm between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., while Gurijepalli in Prakasam reached 121 mm. Eighteen rain gauges across Bapatla, Palnadu, Guntur, Prakasam, and West Godavari crossed 100 mm of rainfall. Guntur recorded up to 74.5 mm and Vijayawada up to 48.5 mm. Officials managed floodwaters by pumping 180 cusecs from Undavalli into the Krishna River, draining Penumaka Reservoir, and channelising runoff near the Western Bypass Road.

Context

Tropical cyclones frequently form over the Bay of Bengal during the post-monsoon season, often bringing high-speed gales and heavy rainfall to India's eastern coastline. State disaster management agencies like the NDRF and local administration maintain pre-positioned teams in vulnerable coastal districts to carry out swift evacuations and infrastructure clearance when landfalls occur.