Severe Cyclone Murasu Brings Heavy Rain And Waterlogging To Vijayawada

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu brought around 100 mm of rainfall to Vijayawada on Tuesday, November 3, after crossing the coast near Ongole between 3.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m.

Rain And Waterlogging

The city experienced continuous rain from the early hours of Tuesday until 8 p.m. with only brief breaks, which is a first this year. At 2.30 p.m., the storm was centred about 80 km southwest of Vijayawada after weakening into a cyclonic storm. Ibrahimpatnam recorded 103 mm of rain from 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Vijayawada Rural received 100.8 mm, and city rain gauges recorded about 98 mm. The downpour left several roads waterlogged, including the stretch from NTR Circle to the Auto Nagar gate, areas near Novotel Varun, Kanuru, and the Pandit Nehru Bus Station.

Official Measures

The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for the district that remains in force until Wednesday morning. NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha declared a holiday for all government and private schools, junior colleges, degree colleges, and Anganwadi centres on Wednesday. Officials are monitoring the Velagaleru regulator on the Budameru rivulet, which could receive inflows of 20,000 to 25,000 cusecs by Wednesday morning if heavy rain continues overnight in catchment areas. Officials reported no inflows as of 6 p.m. on Tuesday. As a precaution, the Collector instructed authorities to shift pregnant women near their due dates and residents living in vulnerable areas along hill slopes to rehabilitation centres, while urging the public to ignore rumours about flooding.

Context

Cyclonic storms frequently cross the eastern coastline of India during this period, bringing heavy downpours that test local drainage systems and prompt precautionary closures of educational institutions. Meteorological departments issue red alerts to ensure district authorities take swift safety measures ahead of potential waterlogging and rising water levels.