Andhra Pradesh Prepares For Cyclone Murasu With Heavy Rains Expected In Coastal Districts

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed top officials and district collectors to stay fully prepared as Cyclone Murasu is expected to impact coastal districts. Reviewing the situation from the RTGS center at the secretariat, the Chief Minister stated that the storm's impact could be lower compared to a previous cyclone named Arnab. The core impact will last for 24 hours starting Monday midnight, bringing moderate to heavy rains across south coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts. Officials have been ordered to ensure zero loss of life or property and to utilize the rainwater effectively by filling ponds and reservoirs.

Official Measures

Authorities estimate that around 8,000 electricity poles could get damaged in the storm-affected zones. To handle power restoration work quickly, another 1,000 workers are being brought in from Chennai. During the previous Arnab cyclone, officials deployed 31,000 electricity poles from Srikakulam to Krishna district. Chief Secretary Sai Prasad and other senior officials attended the review meeting.

Regional Alerts

Meanwhile, Asianet News Telugu reports that the India Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for Alluri Sitarama Raju, Eluru, and East Godavari districts due to extremely heavy downpours. Orange alerts are active for Anakapalli, Kakinada, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts. Telangana has also been placed on alert, with Bhadradri Kothagudem facing a red alert and Khammam under an orange alert with special control rooms set up.

Context

Cyclonic storms frequently form in the Bay of Bengal during the northeast monsoon season, bringing widespread heavy rainfall to India's eastern coast. State disaster management authorities routinely coordinate with local district administrations to pre-position emergency response teams, power repair crews, and relief materials before landfall occurs.