The severe cyclonic storm 'Murasu' made landfall on the coast of Andhra Pradesh early Tuesday morning. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), moving in a north-northwestward direction, it crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narasapur, near Ongole, between 3:30 AM and 5:30 AM. During this period, wind speeds ranged from 100 to 110 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 120 km/h.
Where is the Impact?
Rain has been continuous since Sunday night in Nellore, Kakinada, and Konaseema. Streets in Kakinada are waterlogged.
Rainfall is also occurring in Krishna, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram, and Manyam districts.
A boat got stuck at Rushikonda beach in Visakhapatnam, while people aboard a stranded boat in Nellore were successfully rescued.
Telangana: Orange alert issued for Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Wanaparthy, and Nagarkurnool. Moderate rain is likely in several districts, including Hyderabad.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until conditions normalize.
Government Preparations
According to Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority MD Prakhar Jain, 6 teams of NDRF and 7 teams of SDRF are on standby.
Warnings have been issued against traveling on ghat roads on November 3, 4, and 5 due to the risk of landslides and falling rocks.
Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar instructed that power supplies must be restored within 48 hours in case of disruptions and that the 1912 call center should operate 24/7. He also mentioned calling in additional personnel from Telangana and Tamil Nadu if needed.
Crops were already affected by previous cyclones. In Krishna district, paddy, groundnut, cotton, sugarcane, and horticultural crops have been damaged, causing further concern among farmers.
Affected Trains and Flights
Around 32 trains operated by South Central Railway and East Coast Railway were cancelled, and some routes were diverted.
On November 2, 11 Indigo flights from Chennai to Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kadapa, and Tiruchirappalli were cancelled. Operations were also disrupted at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam airports.
Passengers must check the latest updates on official railway and airline websites before traveling.
How to Get Help?
'Manamitra' WhatsApp Service: Send 'Hi' to 9552300009, select 'Murasu Cyclone Related Issues', then click 'Report Issue' and 'Confirm'. Providing your name, district, and mandal is mandatory, and photos can be uploaded if necessary.
Helpline Numbers: 112, 1070, or 18004250101
Meaning of the Name 'Murasu'
According to Puviyarasan, Chairman of the Karnataka Meteorological Department, he suggested this name while working at the Chennai Meteorological Department. Under WMO guidelines, the name should not be associated with any religion, politics, or private individual, must be easy to pronounce, and should not exceed eight letters. In ancient times under royal rule, 'Murasu' (drum) was used to convey messages to the public, so this name was chosen considering its deep connection with common people. He had also suggested names like 'Air', 'Kalappai', 'Navai', 'Patagu', and 'Thirukkai'.
