Cyclone Murasu Ruins Deepavali Celebrations with Heavy Rains and Long Power Cuts

What Happened

Cyclone Murasu hit SPSR Nellore, Prakasam, and Markapuram districts on Sunday, November 8, 2026, bringing heavy downpours and extensive power cuts that ruined Deepavali celebrations. Power supply remained cut off for the eighth straight day in Dasarivaripalem and nearby coastal villages in Naguluppalapadu mandal because of damaged power lines, poles, conductors, and distribution transformers. Villagers spent their nights using candles and fires lit with palm leaves for light.

Impact On Residents And Farmers

Continuous rain kept families indoors, stopping them from buying good quality crackers and diyas. Madan Mohan, an intermediate student from Dhanalakshmipuram in Nellore, stated that the rains ruined their fireworks plans and left them unable to buy new crackers or use leftovers from last year. In Prakasam district, flooded roads stopped people from traveling, and elderly residents could not step out for medicines and basic needs. Power cuts also caused a heavy mosquito menace in homes. Ramakrishna, a retired employee in Ammanabrolu village, could not use his electric vehicle or mobile phone, forcing him to visit a petrol bunk with a generator just to charge his phone. Meanwhile, farmers suffered massive losses as devastating winds and rains flattened chilli and paddy crops in Purumetla village of Mundlamuru mandal and Chinna Kothapalli village of Addanki mandal.

Context

Coastal areas in southern India often face severe cyclones during the northeast monsoon season, causing widespread damage to rural infrastructure and farming. When electricity towers and lines break down across rural mandals, restoring power takes several days of hard field work by repair crews. Such extreme weather events disrupt daily life completely, hitting retail vendors, students, and farmers the hardest.