Cyclone Murasu makes landfall along Andhra coast, brings heavy rains

Cyclone Murasu made landfall along the coast of Andhra Pradesh near Ongole on the morning of November 3, even as parts of the state are yet to recover from the impact of the recent Cyclone Arnab. 

Heavy rainfall is forecast for several districts following the landfall, including isolated areas across West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, and Guntur districts. Heavy rains are also expected in isolated areas across Bapatla, Palnadu, Markapuram, Prakasam, and Nellore districts, Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the State Disaster Management Authority said. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on the morning of November 3 to discuss the impact of the cyclones in the state, the resulting damage, and ongoing relief operations. Naidu informed the Union Minister about the damage to crops and property across various districts, and requested necessary assistance to support the state in the wake of the back-to-back cyclones, his office said. 

Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy said that bus services should be temporarily suspended, if necessary, in areas experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds. He also asked officials to make alternative transport arrangements to ensure passengers do not face any inconvenience.

He said that road conditions must be monitored regularly, and buses should be operated only along safe routes.

On the other hand, as counting of votes for the urban local body polls held on November 1 and November 2 began at 8 am, the process was postponed till 11.30 in Prakasam and Bapatla districts due to adverse weather conditions of Cyclone Murasu. 

The Collectors and District Election Authorities of Prakasam and Bapatla Districts said that it would be extremely difficult for the counting supervisors, counting assistants, other election personnel and counting agents to reach their respective counting centers at the scheduled time. 

Heavy rainfall was also recorded in Andhra Pradesh the day before Cyclone Murasu arrived. Between 8.30 am on November 2 and 6 am on November 3, the areas that recorded the highest rainfall were: Naguluppalapadu (Prakasam district) – 198.01 mm, Kothapatnam – 182.25 mm, Bapatla – 128.53 mm, Chirala – 124.10 mm, Throvagunta (Prakasam district) – 116.93 mm, Ongole Urban – 106.97 mm, Chilakapadu – 104.50 mm, Santhanuthalapadu – 98.7 mm, Mogalturu (West Godavari district) – 96 mm, and Malikipuram (Konaseema district) – 93.7 mm.